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Hypercalcemia in patients with lung cancer is typically indicative of advanced disease, often associated with the presence of metastasis. This condition arises when cancer cells release parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) or other substances that promote calcium release from bones or increased renal absorption of calcium. In the context of lung cancer, this suggests that the cancer has progressed and may have spread beyond the primary tumor site, leading to systemic effects like hypercalcemia.

In the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms are usually minimal, and hypercalcemia is not commonly seen. The association between hypercalcemia and more advanced disease underscores the importance of this biochemical marker in assessing the stage of lung cancer. While benign lung lesions can also cause hypercalcemia, the presence of significantly high calcium levels is more characteristic of malignancy, particularly with advanced cancer where the body’s calcium-regulating mechanisms are disrupted. Thus, hypercalcemia is an important clinical sign suggesting that the lung cancer has progressed and could potentially involve metastatic processes.