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.