Urinary excretion of zinc and magnesium in malignant melanoma.

As zinc is the dominant trace element of melanin pigmentation, its urinary excretion was studied in 63 patients with malignant melanoma and also in groups of carcinoma patients and normal subjects. For comparison, magnesium excretion was also measured. As the melanoma progressed, the zinc excretion increased, but there was no correlation between the magnesium excretion and the stage of melanoma. There were no significant differences in excretion of either metal between the groups of treated melanoma patients, normal individuals, or the carcinoma patients.