M. Maemura et al., Serum concentration of pyridinoline cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen in patients with metastatic breast cancer, ONCOL REP, 7(6), 2000, pp. 1333-1338
The serum concentration of pyridinoline crosslinked carboxyterminal telopep
tide of type I collagen (ICTP) was examined in 83 patients with metastatic
breast cancer: ICTP levels were significantly higher in patients with bone
metastases than in those without bone metastasis. In patients with bone met
astasis, significantly higher ICTP levels were observed in those with multi
ple lesions than in those with a solitary lesion and these levels reflected
therapeutic response. Sequential monitoring of ICTP revealed that this ele
vation was correlated with disease progression. Combined with imaging studi
es, monitoring of ICTP appears to offer additional information for detectio
n of bone metastasis and evaluation of therapeutic response to bone metasta
sis.