Serum bone markers in breast cancer patients during 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) therapy.

Background: Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) is now indicated for adjuvant therapy of breast cancer. Its effects on serum bone markers and bone metabolism are unclear.

Patients And Methods: The bone formation marker serum osteocalcin, the bone resorption marker serum carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx), serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and calcium concentrations were assessed in nine premenopausal breast cancer patients with no distant metastases at baseline, before the fourth cycle and after the ninth cycle of FEC therapy.

Vitamin D and attainment of peak bone mass among peripubertal Finnish girls: a 3-y prospective study.

Background: Little is known about the effect of vitamin D status on bone gain in adolescents.

Objective: The objective was to examine whether vitamin D status is associated with accrual of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD).

Design: This 3-y prospective study examined the association between changes in BMD or BMAD and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in 171 healthy Finnish girls aged 9-15 y.