The important factors that tend to predict prognosis are the size of tumors (dogs with tumors greater than 10.7 cm2 had median survivals of 9.7 months vs. 19 months for tumors smaller than 10.7 cm2) and hypercalcemia (patients
with elevated calcium levels had median survival times of 8.5 months vs. 19.5 for patients with normal calcium levels).
When the implant
detects elevated calcium levels for a prolonged period of time, it triggers the genetically - modified cells to begin producing extra melanin.
Unfortunately (only from a lab test standpoint), there are some cats
with elevated calcium levels all their lives who are not affected by it and who don't have an identifiable problem causing it.
Hyperparathyroidism causes the loss of calcium from your bones and
elevated calcium levels in your blood.
Moreover; it has been observed that
elevated calcium levels and interaction of the membrane bound DAG with protein kinase C (PKC), activates PKC's kinase activity, which is known to regulate the cellular activity of MAPK [41].
An elevated calcium level in the serum is a clue that parathyroid hormone might be in excess.
Imbalance in the calcium / magnesium ratio or
an elevated calcium level may be associated with deposits of calcium in arteries.