The Semiquantitative Bone Scintigraphy Index Correlates With Serum Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase Activity in Breast Cancer Patients With Bone Metastasis

As monitors of the response of bone metastasis in BC to treatment, serial determinations of serum TRACP5b activity and SQBSI were both shown to be useful by our preliminary findings. However, serum TRACP5b activity proved the better monitoring tool. If follow-up studies were conducted within 6 months, the combined use of SQBSI and TRACP5b would allow distinction of genuine disease progression from the “flare” phenomenon, in which bone metastasis can appear to progress in bone scintigraphic images although clinical symptoms improve. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.