Elevation of serum acid phosphatase in cancers with bone metastasis

In patients with nonprostatic cancer serum acid phosphatase activity is usually elevated when bone metastasis is present but not when bone metastasis is absent. The fraction responsible for serum enzyme elevation is a normal component of serum; it appears in gel electrophoresis as band 5; and is tartrate-resistant. It is suggested that the origin of acid phosphatase elevation is bone osteoclasts rather than cancer tissue, as is the case with prostatic carcinoma. Determination of serum acid phosphatase activity may be useful in the detection of bone metastasis.