Lower vitamin D levels in patients with melanoma were associated with poorer outcomes, according to a study of plasma samples from 1,042 patients with melanoma. Researchers found:

• Median vitamin D level was 25.0 ng/mL.

• Lower vitamin D was associated with the blood draw during the fall/winter months, older age, increased CRP, increased tumor thickness, ulcerated tumor, and advanced melanoma stage.

• On univariate analysis, lower vitamin D was associated with poorer overall survival (OS), melanoma-specific survival (MSS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

• Vitamin D’s effect on these outcome measures persisted after adjustment for CRP and other covariates.

• Multivariable hazard ratios per unit decrease of vitamin D were 1.02 for OS, 1.02 for MSS, and 1.02 for DFS.

Citation: Fang S, Sui D, Wang Y, et al. Association of vitamin D levels with outcome in patients with melanoma after adjustment for C-reactive protein. [Published online ahead of print March 21, 2016]. Clin Oncol. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.64.1357.