Alkaline phosphatase levels in osteosarcoma tissue are related to prognosis

Abstract
Levels of alkaline phosphatase were measured in the primary tumor of 26 patients with osteosarcoma. One of seven patients with a tissue alkaline phosphatase level less than 0.6 μM/min/mg developed pulmonary metastases. In contrast, 16 of 17 patients with a tissue alkaline phosphatase level greater than 0.6 μM/min/mg developed pulmonary metastases. It thus appears that tissue alkaline phosphatase levels of primary osteosarcomas are strongly correlated with prognosis (p < .01).