Besides the blood count, other blood tests can help your doctor when looking for evidence of bone secondaries. Large amounts of a certain enzyme called alkaline phosphatase may be released into the blood by active bone cells. (An enzyme is a special type of protein which keeps cells functioning normally by helping certain types of chemical reactions.) The enzyme alkaline phosphatase helps bone cells produce new bone. It also helps other cells in the body function normally, especially liver cells. When the cells are either very active or damaged, some of the enzymes they contain can leak into the blood. Cancer in the bones is only one of the possible reasons for high alkaline phosphatase levels being found in the blood. Other causes include fractures, infections in bone and all sorts of liver problems. A high alkaline phosphatase doesn’t prove anything in itself, but is a clue that should lead to other tests to find the reason.
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