Serum tartrate resistant acid phosphatase as a potential marker of bone metastasis from breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) is exclusively localized in osteoclasts and has been suggested to be a unique marker of bone metastasis.


METHODS
TRACP activity using an improved spectrophotometric assay was measured in 56 healthy volunteers and 113 breast cancer patients, including 35 with bone metastases (BM).


RESULTS
TRACP activities (IU/l, mean +/- SD) of normal subjects in pre- and post-menopausal women were 5.7 +/- 1.3 and 6.6 +/- 1.2, respectively (p < 0.02). The specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of TRACP in patients, were 91.0%, 65.7%, and 83.2%, respectively. TRACP was significantly higher in patients with BM than in patients without BM (p < 0.01). In patients with BM, TRACP increased in proportion to the number of BM. Regarding clinical assessment of treatment of BM, TRACP was significantly higher in patients with progressive disease.


CONCLUSIONS
TRACP is a useful marker of metastatic bone disease and response to treatment in breast cancer patients.
Wada
N
N
Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Ishii
S
S
Ikeda
T
T
Enomoto
K
K
Kitajima
M
M
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase
D000596:Amino Acids; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007527:Isoenzymes; C015484:pyridinoline; C036020:deoxypyridinoline; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase