Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Alkaline phosphatase levels in dogs with malignant mammary tumors
By Karayannopoulou, M et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2006·Department of Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activities in canine malignant mammary neoplasms with and without osseous transformation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 21 female dogs with malignant mammary tumors were found to have higher levels of certain enzymes in their blood compared to healthy dogs. These enzymes, including total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), can indicate bone activity and liver function. The study showed that dogs with these tumors had significantly elevated enzyme levels, particularly those with epithelial tumors. However, the increase in BALP did not explain the overall rise in TALP for tumors that had transformed bone. This information can help veterinarians better understand and monitor dogs with mammary tumors.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Increased serum activity of total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) has been found in dogs with mammary neoplasms, especially malignant mixed tumors. We hypothesized that the bone isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (BALP), a specific indicator of osteoblastic activity and bone formation, may contribute to increased TALP in dogs with mammary neoplasms with osseous transformation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare serum TALP, BALP, and other ALP isoenzyme activities in dogs with mammary malignant neoplasms with and without osseous transformation. METHODS: Twenty-one female dogs with malignant mammary neoplasms were compared with 21 clinically healthy, age-matched female control dogs. Physical, clinicopathologic (including preprandial and postprandial serum bile acids, ACTH stimulation, and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests), radiographic, and ultrasonographic examinations were performed on all dogs with tumors to assess coexisting conditions. On the basis of histologic examination of excised tumors, dogs were further classified as having epithelial (n = 11) or mesenchymal/mixed (epithelial-mesenchymal) (n = 10) neoplasms, the latter of which had histologic and radiologic evidence of bone formation. Serum TALP, BALP, liver alkaline phosphatase (LALP), and corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase (CALP) activities were measured using biochemical methods. RESULTS: Dogs with malignant mammary tumors had significantly higher (P < .05) median serum TALP (170 U/L), BALP (59 U/L), LALP (49 U/L), and CALP (24 U/L) activities, compared with control dogs (81, 32, 37, and 5 U/L, respectively). Significantly higher activities of BALP and LALP were found in dogs with epithelial neoplasms; whereas, only CALP activity was higher in dogs with mesenchymal/mixed neoplasms. There was no significant difference in TALP or isoenzyme activitities between epithelial and mesenchymal/mixed groups. CONCLUSION: BALP activity is increased in some dogs with malignant mammary tumors but does not account for the increase in TALP in dogs with neoplasms that have osseous transformation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16967410/