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

OBJECTIVE

Assess the relationship of serum calcium and serum albumin to tumor stage and other clinical characteristics in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM).

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.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher albumin-corrected serum calcium may be a marker of disease progression in MM.