Calcium; Inorganic Phosphates; Alkaline and Acid Phosphatase Activities in Breast Cancer Patients in Calabar; Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy of women in Nigeria. Change in serum levels of some biochemical parameters could assist diagnosis and follow-up of breast cancer. Objective: To determine serum levels of calcium; inorganic phosphates; alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities in patients with breast cancer; and change in the serum levels over time. Methods: Total serum calcium and inorganic phosphates; and serum ALP and ACP activities were determined in 25women with breast cancer and 25 age-matched controls using colorimetric and enzymatic methods; over 6 months with bimonthly analysis. Results: The serum calcium level; increases in serum calcium levels; ALP and ACP activities in the study group with time (p0.05); whereas no significant increase was observed in the control group.Conclusion: Breast cancer patients have higher calcium levels and higher ALP and ACP activities. The increase in the levelsof these parameters with the levelsofthese parameters with time shows that they could be of importance in monitoring treatment and disease progress in a resource-poor setting: