John T... RE: PAP Question

PAP= An ensyme produced by the prostate that is elevated, greater than 3.0, is an indication that the cancer has spread beyond the prostate. According to Strum and Dattoli an elevated PAP was the strongest predictor of primary treatment failure.

1.  The PAP blood test was more commonly used before the days of PSA.  It stands for the Prostatic Acid Phosphatase test and the normal range is 0 - 3.5 ng/mL.  For some guys who can't rely on PSA (for example, me) other markers are needed. 

2.  The ALP or Alkaline Phosphatase is an enzyme used in combination with AST, ALT, Bilirubin, etc... to guage the health of the liver.  The normal range is 25-150 IU/L.  High levels can possibly indicate bile duct obstruction.  It also helps detect bone disorders.  Elevated ALP indicates that there could be active bone formation occurring as ALP is a byproduct of osteoblast activity.

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/alp/tab/test

3.  There is also the Alkaline Phosphatase, Bone Specific Tandem-R Ostase blood test.  This is a marker for bone turnover.  For us bone met guys this is another marker that might be useful.  Normal range is 0 - 20 ug/L.

Too many A's and too many P's in all these blood tests...and too many phosphatases as well...

I get these tests periodically. 

Thanks,

Jerry L.