PROGNOSTIC IMPORTANCE OF ALKALINE-PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY IN SERUM FROM DOGS WITH APPENDICULAR OSTEOSARCOMA - 75 CASES (1990-1996)

Objective-To determine whether alkaline phosphatase activity in dogs w ith appendicular osleosarcoma can be used as a prognostic indicator. D esign-Retrospective study. Animals-75 dogs with appendicular osteosarc oma, Procedure-Serum total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) and bone-specif ic alkaline phosphatase (BALP) activities were determined from archiva l serum samples obtained at various times during treatment of appendic ular osteosarcoma and follow-up evaluations. Associations among activi ties of TALP and BALP and survival and disease-free intervals, percent age of bone length involved with tumor, histologic subtype, and method of surgical treatment were evaluated. Results-High activities of TALP and BALP before surgery were significantly associated with shorter su rvival and disease-free intervals in dogs undergoing surgery (amputati on or limb-sparing procedure) and adjuvant chemotherapy. Activity of B ALP significantly decreased in 29 dogs for which postoperative samples were available. Failure of BALP activity to decrease after surgery wa s correlated with shorter survival and disease-free intervals. Clinica l Implications-Activities of TALP and BALP in serum are important prog nostic factors for appendicular osteosarcoma in dogs. Prognostic facto rs may help clinicians initiate more aggressive treatment for dogs tha t are at higher risk of death or relapse.