Serum calcium, albumin and tumor stage in cutaneous malignant melanoma.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Assess the relationship of serum calcium and serum albumin to tumor stage and other clinical characteristics in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM). PATIENTS & METHODS: A cross-sectional study to evaluate serum calcium as a marker of disease progression (n = 644) in MM. RESULTS: Serum albumin was significantly lower among men (p < 0.01) and among patients with stage 4 disease (p < 0.05). In a multivariable regression model adjusted for age, gender and site, albumin-corrected calcium was positively associated with disease stage (odds ratio 1.46; 95% CI 1.02-2.07; p = 0.04). The odds of higher stage increased 60% for each 1.0 mg/dl increase in albumin-corrected calcium. CONCLUSION: Higher albumin-corrected serum calcium may be a marker of disease progression in MM.