Related Experiment Videos
[Small increases of the serum alkaline phosphatase activity and malignant changes]
O Urayama1, M Fujita, T Kobayashi
1Department of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine.
Rinsho Byori. the Japanese Journal of Clinical Pathology
|March 6, 1999
Summary
A small increase in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) may indicate malignancy. Analyzing cancer-associated ALP isozymes could aid in earlier cancer detection during routine lab tests.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Context:
- Routine laboratory examinations often reveal minor elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP).
- The clinical significance of isolated, mild increases in serum ALP activity requires further investigation.
- A study was conducted at Akita University Hospital to assess patients with ALP levels up to twice the reference range.
Purpose:
- To investigate the clinico-pathological significance of subtle increases in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity.
- To determine the association between elevated serum ALP and the presence of malignant tumors.
- To explore the potential of cancer-associated ALP isozymes for early malignancy detection.
Summary:
- The study analyzed 76 adult outpatients with elevated serum ALP levels, focusing on 33 with pathological ALP changes.
- Malignant tumors were identified in 17% (13 out of 76) of the patients.
- Immunochemical analysis revealed selective expression of placental or intestinal-like ALP isozymes in lung, larynx, and prostate cancers.
Impact:
- Early detection of malignancy may be enhanced by analyzing cancer-associated ALP isozymes.
- Monitoring subtle, sequential increases in serum ALP activity in routine diagnostics could prompt further investigation.
- This research highlights the diagnostic utility of specific ALP isozyme profiling in identifying occult cancers.