Hypercalcaemia, parathyroid hormone-related protein and malignancy

Hypercalcaemia is the most common serious metabolic complication of malignancy. Recent advances have significantly increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of hypercalcaemia of malignancy and revealed the importance of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. This review examines the pathophysiology of hypercalcaemia of malignancy, focusing on the role of PTHrP before discussing further pathological and physiological processes in which PTHrP may be implicated, and the impact of this knowledge on the management of malignant disease.