Serum Iron Level and 10-Year Survival after Melanoma

Abstract

The malignant melanoma of the skin is a very aggressive tumor. The determination of prognostic biomarkers is important for the early detection of recurrence, and for the enrollment of the patients into different treatment regimens. An evaluation of a cohort of 375 Polish MM cases revealed that a low serum iron concentration (i.e., below 893.05 µg/L) was associated with increased mortality. The study group was followed up from the date of melanoma diagnosis until death or 2020. Patients were assigned to one of four categories in accordance with increasing iron level (I–IV quarters). Patients with a low iron level of below 893.05 µg/L (I quarter) had a significantly lower survival rate when compared to the subgroup with the highest iron level, above 1348.63 µg/L (IV quarter; HR = 4.12; p = 0.028 and HR = 4.66; p = 0.019 for uni- and multivariable models, respectively). Multivariable analysis took into account the following factors: iron levels, Clark, sex, and age. Future studies based upon the examination of a larger number of cases should be conducted to confirm our findings.