Increased incidence of placenta-like alkaline phosphatase activity in breast and genitourinary cancer.

Abstract

SUMMARY The incidence of placenta-like alkaline phosphatase activ ity in serum was investigated in patients with diagnosed active malignant disease, in patients with a variety of nonmalignant conditions, and in normal individuals. The increased occurrence of this isoenzyme in cancer was not great enough to provide the basis for a useful diagnostic screening test. However, significant association of placenta like alkaline phosphatase activity in the serum of patients with tumors of the female breast and genitourinary tract was noted and suggests that the test may be useful in these conditions asan indicatorof disease activity.