What Does Raised ALP Reading When Suffering From Colon Cancer Suggest?

Posted on Tue, 19 May 2015

Question: What does a raised ALP reading mean in a metastic colon cancer pt with liver mets?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Alkaline phosphatase has got prognostic value in patient of colon cancer

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observation below.

1. ALP or alkaline phosphatase is known to have a prognostic role in patients who are taking treatment for colon cancer with liver metastasis.

2. People with ALP greater than 160 U/L will have a tendency to have liver metastasis.

3. Studies show that a change in ALP levels of greater than 120 U/L over a period of 4 to 6 weeks might indicate advanced disease progression, which warrants a more aggressive treatment or a change in regimen.

4. Even chemotherapy with oxaliplatin can increase ALP in more than 42 percent patients taking chemotherapy.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (14 hours later)

Is TACE suitable at All with extra hepatic disease in bowel cancer patients ?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
TACEcan extend survival in colon cancer with liver and extrahepatic disease

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

Medical literature review on TACE in colon cancer with liver and extrahepatic metastasis is given below

1. TACE is a minimally invasive therapy option for controlling local metastases and improving survival time in patients with hepatic metastases from colon cancer.

2. The 1-year survival rate after chemoembolization is 62%, the 2-year survival rate is 28% and the 3-year survival rate is 7%. Median survival from the start of chemoembolization treatment was 14.3 months.

3. Tumor and nodsl stage, extrahepatic metastases, number of lesions, tumor location within the liver and choice of chemotherapy protocol of TACE are none significant factors for patient's survival.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (2 hours later)

In your view which would seem better sirt or race ? But if chemotherapy does not work, Tace may not too right ?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
TACE is a better and more popular treatment option

Detailed Answer:
Hi Malvi1,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. TACE is usually a better choice since SIRT might have limitations and it is a new technique.

2. In some hospitals SIRT is given if TACE does not work.

3. TACE also has different treatment protocols and the treatment is from a closer distance and focused. Hence the chances of having a response is better than systemic chemotherapy even if some medicines did not work.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (58 minutes later)

Would tace at all increase survival well?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (42 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Survival increases but is variable

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. TACE causes the medicine to be given close to the tumor and this is the reason the response is better. Patients taking TACE treatment have an average survival of 14.3 months.

2. Also out of 100 patients with colon cancer and liver metastasis who start TACE treatment today 62 will live till the end of 1 year, 28 will stay alive after 2 years and 7 will survive for 3 years.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar