Volume: 46 Issue: 3
Year: 2026, Page: 240-247, Doi: https://doi.org/10.51248/v46i3.61
Received: June 3, 2026 Accepted: Sept. 16, 2026 Published: Sept. 17, 2026
BACKGROUND: Globally, breast cancer ranks 2nd in cancer incidence. Both benign lesions and cancers present as lumps. Early detection of cancer is vital for treatment; there is need for a simple, sensitive method to detect tumours early.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess diagnostic value of serum Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels in women with palpable breast lesions.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study, spanning 2 years, included 192 women (18 – 80 years) coming to Department of Surgery, JNIMS, presenting with breast lumps. LDH was measured by DGKC method, ALP and β-hCG were measured by ELISA. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and chi-square test were used for biomarker changes in benign and malignant lesions, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for diagnostic performance.
RESULTS: 129(67.2%) of patients had benign lesions and 63(32.8%) had malignant lesions. Mean LDH was significantly lower in benign cases (294.9 ± 78.21 U/L) than malignant cases (448.2 ±168.0 U/L) (p-value < 0.05). Mean ALP was significantly lower in benign cases (619.86 ± 284.01 pg/ml) than malignant cases (817.47 ± 334.34 pg/ml) (p-value < 0.05). β-hCG was significantly raised in 17(8.8%) of malignant cases and undetectable in benign cases (n=129,67.2%) and 46(24%) of malignant cases (p-value < 0.05). β-hCG showed superior performance (AUC=0.839), followed by LDH (AUC= 0.773) and ALP (AUC=0.685).
CONCLUSION: β-hCG exhibited the best discriminatory ability, followed by LDH, while ALP performed poorest. The findings suggest their potential role in improving diagnostic accuracy. Validation through large scale studies is warranted.
Keywords: Breast cancer, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), β-Human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), Diagnostic performance
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Nongmaithem Sushantana, Raajkumari Vidyabati Devi. Study of Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase, Alkaline Phosphatase and β - hCG in Women with Palpable Breast Lesions – A Cross-Sectional Study. Biomedicine: 2026, 46(3): 240-247. https://doi.org/10.51248/v46i3.61