title: Hypocalcemia in cancer.
abstract: Hypocalcemia based on total calcium measurement is frequent in certain cancers (especially prostate) in association with osteosclerotic bone metastases. In a majority of these patients hypocalcemia is related to the low serum albumin and/or renal failure. True ionized hypocalcemia may be seen as a toxic effect of certain chemotherapeutic agents or as a consequence of hyperphosphatemia due to rapid tumor lysis. In addition, tumors may produce osteoblast-stimulating factor(s) which cause massive accretion of calcium by the skeleton. Isolation and purification of these factors may provide us with unique osteoblast-stimulating factors which may have therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, VA West Side Medical Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago 60612.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gajardo
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kukreja
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000502:physiology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D015275:Tumor Lysis Syndrome / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010710:Phosphates; D012709:Serum Albumin