Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
08:24
Measuring Bone Remodeling and Recreating the Tumor-Bone Microenvironment Using Calvaria Co-culture and Histomorphometry
Published on: March 14, 2020
7.2K
Hypocalcemia in cancer patients: An exploratory study
José António Ferraz Gonçalves1, Telma Costa1, Joana Rema2
1Instituto Português de Oncologia, Porto, Portugal.
Porto Biomedical Journal
|January 14, 2020
Summary
Hypocalcemia, or low serum calcium, is linked to various cancers and can impact patient survival. However, it is not the sole predictor of a poor prognosis in cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Calcium plays vital physiological roles; abnormal serum levels can have severe consequences.
- While hypercalcemia in cancer is well-studied, recent data on hypocalcemia prevalence is limited.
- Evolving cancer treatments may directly or indirectly cause hypocalcemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hypocalcemia and different cancer types.
- To assess the impact of hypocalcemia on patient survival outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of adult cancer patients with serum calcium <2.0 mmol/L in 2013.
- Analysis included albumin-corrected calcium levels and survival data.
Main Results:
- 829 patients were included; most common cancers were hematological (24%) and colorectal (13%).
- 33% of patients had normal albumin-corrected calcium levels.
- Median survival was significantly longer for patients with normal corrected calcium (479 days) versus low corrected calcium (62 days) (P < .001).
- Age, primary cancer type, and albumin levels were significant predictors of survival in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Hypocalcemia is associated with multiple cancer types.
- Low calcium levels alone do not determine poor prognosis; other factors are more critical.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis
5.6K
Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.
5.6K
02:18Cancer
53.3K
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
53.3K
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
601
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
601