Pathologic fracture of the hip due to metastatic lesions in bone is a serious problem. This study examined the effect of metastatic lesions on the material properties and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) data of trabecular bone. Twelve distal femora were obtained, four with lytic and/or blastic metastatic lesions (group L), four without lesions but from donors who died from breast, prostate, or lung cancer (group NL), and four from donors with no cancer (group NC). Each specimen was CT scanned, and 56, 15 × 15 × 15-mm cubes of trabecular bone were cut. QCT density (r_QCT), compressive elastic modulus (E), compressive yield and ultimate strengths (S_y and S_u), and ash density (ρ_ash) of each cube were determined. Regression analysis was performed between ρ_ash and E, S_y, S_u and ρ_QCT, and analysis of covariance was used to identify differences between groups. Power relationships that did not depend on group (p≥0:​1) were found between E and ρ_ash (0:​74≤r≤0:​84;​ p<0.001) and between strength (S_y and S_u) and ρ_ash (r≥0:​94;​ p<0.001). ρ_ash was strongly related to ρ_QCT (r≥0:​99;​ p<0.001). These results indicate that metastatic disease does not significantly impair the ability of QCT to provide an accurate and precise estimate of ρ_ash that can be used to estimate mechanical properties of trabecular bone with and without metastases.