Serum osteoprotegerin as a novel marker of bone metastasis in prostate cancer

Abstract

To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) in prostate cancer bone metastasis. Serum osteoprotegerin were measured by ELISA assay in 30 healthy men, 30 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 66 patients with prostate cancer including 36 without bone metastasis (30 with localized cancer, 6 with lymph node metastasis) and 30 with bone metastasis. The results associated with clinical data were calculated statistically. Serum osteoprotegerin were significantly increased in patients with bone metastasis compared with others (P<0.001). OPG level had a positive correlation with either prostate specific antigen (PSA) or Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level (r=0.427, 0.277; P<0.001); and a positive correlation with either Gleason score or grade (r=0.427, 0.277; P<0.001). ROC analysis proved that OPG had better diagnostic accuracy than ALP for detecting bone metastasis in prostate cancer. Serum osteoprotegerin could be used as a marker for diagnosis of bone metastasis in prostate cancer.