A 65-year-old man has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is being prepared for radiation therapy.His physician is concerned that the cancer may have metastasized to the patient's skeletal system.Which one of the following laboratory analytes would give this information to the physician?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

ALP (alkaline phosphatase) is an enzyme found in high levels in bone and liver tissue. If cancer has spread to the bones, it can cause an increase in ALP levels in the blood. Therefore, ALP can be used as a marker for bone metastases in prostate cancer patients. Calcitonin, AFP, and growth hormone are not specific markers for prostate cancer metastasis to bone.

A 65-Year-Old Man Has Been Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and Is