This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jukkola, A. Articles by Risteli, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Jukkola, A. Articles by Risteli, J.

Aggressive Breast Cancer Leads to Discrepant Serum Levels of the Type I Procollagen Propeptides PINP and PICP¹

Departments of Oncology [A. J., G. B.], Obstetrics and Gynecology [K. V.], Clinical Chemistry [J. R.], and Medical Biochemistry [L. R., J. R.], University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu; United Laboratories, Ltd., Helsinki and Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Central Hospital, Helsinki [R. T.]; and Department of Oncology, Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa [E. T.], Finland

The propeptides PICP and PINP are derived from the synthesis of type I collagen, a major matrix protein of bone and soft tissues. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate their value as indicators of the aggressivity of breast cancer. Serum PINP, PICP, and total alkaline phosphatase were determined from 89 breast cancer patients. Forty had major bone and/or soft tissue metastases with an aggressive disease course: the progressive disease (PD) group. Forty-nine had either none or minor bone and/or soft tissue metastases with a stable clinical course: the stable disease group (SD). The mean value of PINP in the PD group was 7.2 times higher than that in the SD group (276 ± 79 µg/l versus 38 ± 3 µg/l, respectively; P = 0.005), whereas PICP mean value was only 1.7 times higher in the PD group (174 ± 20 µg/l versus 100 ± 5 µg/l; P = 0.001). The ratio of PICP to PINP was 1.02 ± 0.07 in the PD group and 3.07 ± 0.18 in the SD group (P < 0.001). The correlation between PICP and PINP was linear in the SD group and nonlinear in the PD group. The results indicate that high serum PICP and PINP concentrations and a low PICP:PINP ratio are associated with a highly aggressive nature of breast cancer. Determination of PINP, in particular, may be valuable when evaluating the clinical status of a breast cancer patient.

¹ This study was supported in part by grants from the Medical Research Council of the Academy of Finland, the Finnish Cancer Foundations, the Technology Development Center, Finland, and the Oulu University Hospital.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Kajaanintie 52 A, FIN-90220 Oulu, Finland. Phone: 358-8-344 233; Fax: 358-8-344 522; E-mail: Juha.Risteli@Oulu.Fi.

Received 4/28/97. Accepted 10/14/97.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Fohr, C. R. Dunstan, and M. J. Seibel Markers of Bone Remodeling in Metastatic Bone Disease J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2003; 88(11): 5059 - 5075. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Palmieri, S. Poggi, V. Ulivi, G. Casartelli, and P. Manduca Pro-collagen I COOH-terminal Trimer Induces Directional Migration and Metalloproteinases in Breast Cancer Cells J. Biol. Chem., January 31, 2003; 278(6): 3639 - 3647. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Xu, D. Rodriguez, E. Petitclerc, J. J. Kim, M. Hangai, S. M. Yuen, G. E. Davis, and P. C. Brooks Proteolytic exposure of a cryptic site within collagen type IV is required for angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo J. Cell Biol., September 3, 2001; 154(5): 1069 - 1080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Reeves, D. D. Edberg, and Y. Li Architectural Transcription Factor HMGI(Y) Promotes Tumor Progression and Mesenchymal Transition of Human Epithelial Cells Mol. Cell. Biol., January 15, 2001; 21(2): 575 - 594. [Abstract] [Full Text]