Association Between Melanoma Metastasis and Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Chinese Population

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains a significant global public health concern. However, the relationship between MetS, its individual components and melanoma metastasis remains unexplored. We analysed the clinical data of 258 Chinese melanoma patients who had not undergo systemic therapy. Binary logistic regression, adjusted for sex and age, was employed to evaluate the connection between MetS and its components and melanoma metastasis. Of the 258 melanoma patients, 92 met the MetS criteria upon diagnosis. No direct association between MetS and melanoma metastasis was identified. However, specific components of MetS, namely low HDL-cholesterol levels (OR = 2.85, 95% CI:1.50–5.41, p < 0.05) and dysglycaemia (OR = 4.23, 95% CI:1.80–8.96, p < 0.05), were associated with melanoma metastasis. In subgroup analysis, hypertriglyceridemia correlated with melanoma metastasis in non-elderly patients (< 65 years) (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.14–6.33, p < 0.05). Central obesity and hypertension showed no association. A dose–response analysis further indicated that melanoma metastasis risk escalated with increasing fasting blood glucose and blood triglyceride concentrations, and with decreasing blood HDL concentration. Our results suggest that monitoring and managing individual components of the MetS, particularly HDL-cholesterol levels, fasting glucose and triglyceride levels, may have potential prognostic benefits for melanoma in the Chinese population.