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Original Article
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Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(5):907-915. Published online September 1, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2026.092
- Parathyroid hormone–related protein–mediated hypercalcemia of malignancy: insights from a multicenter clinical data warehouse
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Jinyoung Kim1, Yuri Shin2, Jeonghoon Ha3, Chaiho Jeong4, Jeongmin Lee5, Kwanhoon Jo6, Jang Won Son7, Jae-Seung Yun8, Ihnsuk Lee9, Dong-Jun Lim3, Hyuk-Sang Kwon1, Ki-Ho Song1, Ki-Hyun Baek1
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1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
2Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
3Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
4Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Korea
5Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
6Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon, Korea
7Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea
8Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea
9Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
- Corresponding author: Ki-Hyun Baek ,Tel: +82-2-379-1400, Fax: +82-2-780-3132, Email: drbkh@catholic.ac.kr
- Received: February 24, 2026; Revised: April 27, 2026 Accepted: May 11, 2026.
- Abstract
- Background/Aims
Parathyroid hormone–related protein (PTHrP) is a major mediator of hypercalcemia in patients with malignancy; however, understanding of PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia remains limited because available evidence has largely been derived from small case series.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical records from eight hospitals affiliated with The Catholic University of Korea. Adult patients (> 20 years) with confirmed malignancy and albumin-corrected hypercalcemia (≥ 10.5 mg/dL) between 2013 and 2022 were identified and classified as having PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia (PTHrP > 1.1 pmol/L) or hypercalcemia due to other causes (PTHrP ≤ 1.1 pmol/L).
Results
Among the 289 patients reported to have PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia, median age was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR], 59–75) and median plasma PTHrP level was 6.1 pmol/L (IQR, 3.5–11.5). Solid tumors accounted for 86% of cases, while hematologic malignancies accounted for the other 14%. The most common cancer types were lung cancer (30%, n = 87), head and neck cancer (11%, n = 31), and multiple myeloma (8%, n = 24). Median survival after the onset of hypercalcemia was 46 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 36–61) in patients with PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia. Compared with the 169 patients with hypercalcemia due to other causes, PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia was associated with a higher risk of mortality after adjustment for age, corrected calcium level, and cancer type (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.0; 95% CI, 2.9–5.4).
Conclusions
PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia occurs across a broad spectrum of malignancies and is associated with worse clinical outcomes.
Keywords :Electronic health records; Hypercalcemia; Parathyroid hormone-related protein; Neoplasms; Paraneoplastic syndromes
