title: Serum placental-type alkaline phosphatase activity in women with squamous and glandular malignancies of the reproductive tract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate serum placental-type alkaline phosphatase (PLAP-type) activities in women with squamous and glandular malignancies of the reproductive tract using an immunoradiometric assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  PLAP-type immunoreactivity was measured in 180 women with non-ovarian malignancies of the reproductive tract and the values were compared with those from 334 controls. The cases comprised 18 vulval, nine vaginal, 103 cervical, 46 endometrial, and five fallopian tube cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum PLAP-type activities were no different from controls in patients with squamous cell tumours. Women with adenocarcinoma of the cervix, endometrium, and fallopian tube had increased values: women with endometrial cancer had a median value nearly four times greater than that of controls. There was no direct correlation between PLAP-type activities and stage of disease in patients with endometrial cancer, but values reverted to normal after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum PLAP-type measurements are of no value in the management of patients with squamous cell tumours of the female reproductive tract. Raised activities can, however, be found in glandular tumours, in particular endometrial cancer where serum PLAP-type measurements may be of value in predicting remission.
authors: Joint Academic Unit of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Physiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
authors: T E
authors: TE
authors: Ind
authors: R K
authors: RK
authors: Iles
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Carter
authors: D G
authors: DG
authors: Lowe
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Shepherd
authors: C N
authors: CN
authors: Hudson
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Chard
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood*; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology*; D011379:Prognosis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C019839:alkaline phosphatase, placental