Publication

Background/Aims: Pyridinoline cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (1CTP) is a sensitive serum marker for metastatic bone carcinomas and may also be associated with invasiveness of various carcinomas. To clarify the significance of 1CTP in hepato-biliary pancreas malignancies, we examined the relationship between clinicopathological features and serum level of 1CTP. Methodology: The subjects were 75 patients who underwent surgical resections including 27 patients with liver carcinomas, 15 with extra-hepatic biliary carcinomas, 14 pancreatic carcinomas and 19 benign diseases. Results: 1CTP level tended to be higher in the malignant diseases than in benign diseases but this difference was not significant (p=0.065). Compared to benign adenoma, 1CTP level in the malignant diseases was significantly higher (p=0.049). 1CTP level tended to be higher in patients with cholangitis compared to those with no inflammation or benign tumors (p=0.065). 1CTP was not correlated with any tumor markers. 1CTP was not associated with node status and vascular infiltrations. 1CTP level tended to be lower in patients with poor differentiation. Conclusions: Serum level of 1CTP might be a predictive marker for hepatobiliary pancreas malignancies but also reflects the degree of co-existing cholangitis.