Berardi et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2019;5:79 Journal of Cancer DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2019.008 Metastasis and Treatment Review Open Access Electrolyte disorders in cancer patients: a systematic review Rossana Berardi, Mariangela Torniai, Edoardo Lenci, Federica Pecci, Francesca Morgese, Silvia Rinaldi Clinica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I - GM Lancisi - G Salesi, Ancona 60126, Italy. Correspondence to: Prof. Rossana Berardi, Clinica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Via Conca 71, Ancona 60126, Italy. E-mail:
[email protected] How to cite this article: Berardi R, Torniai M, Lenci E, Pecci F, Morgese F, Rinaldi S. Electrolyte disorders in cancer patients: a systematic review. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2019;5:79. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2019.008 Received: 26 Apr 2019 First Decision: 26 Jul 2019 Revised: 20 Nov 2019 Accepted: 20 Nov 2019 Published: 9 Dec 2019 Science Editor: Stephen J. Ralph Copy Editor: Jing-Wen Zhang Production Editor: Jing Yu Abstract Electrolyte disorders are very common complications in cancer patients. They might be associated to a worsening outcome, influencing quality of life, possibility to receive anticancer drugs, and conditioning survival. In fact, they might provoke important morbidity, with dysfunction of multiple organs and rarely causing life-threatening conditions. Moreover, recent studies showed that they might worsen cancer patients’ outcome, while a prompt correction seems to have a positive impact. Furthermore, there is evidence of a correlation between electrolyte alterations and poorer performance status, delays in therapy commencement and continuation, and negative treatment outcomes.