Role of enzymes for early detection of metastasis in breast carcinoma

In thirty two patients of breast cancer and thirty two controls, gamma glutamyl transferasse [GGT] levels showed, significant increase [P<.001] in both groups of patients between 30-45 and 46-60 years of age. Increase in GGT levels in patients without evidence of metastasis were less significant [P < 0.05]. Alkaline phosphatase [ALP] level showed non significant increase [P > 0.05] in patients without evidence of metastasis in both groups. In patients with evidence of metastasis, highly significant increase [P < 0.001] was seen. The enzyme levels were also found to be related to the degree of metastasis as patients with metastatic deposits in liver and bone showed greater increase than those with localized tumours

Effect of menopause on serum calcium phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase in relation to urinary calcium, phosphorus and hydroxyproline

Our study included thirty premenopausal and thirty postmenopausal women and their serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and urinary calcium, phosphates, creatinine and hydroxyproline were determined. Serum calcium and its urinary excretion was found to be significantly higher in postmenopausal group while urinary hydroxproline was also markedly raised in postmenopausal women. Serum phosphorous does not appear to be of importance although it was slightly higher. Alkaline phosphatase showed no significant changes. Our findings show that serum and urinary calcium and urinary hydroxyproline can be used as biochemical markers to assess bone changes in post menopausal women