Largest Feline Oncogenome Links Cat and Human Cancer
Largest feline cancer genetic map shows many driver genes mirror human cancers, offering cross-species therapy clues including for triple-negative breast cancer.
Overview
The study published in Science mapped tumor genomes from almost 500 domestic cats, researchers said.
The team analyzed roughly 978 to 1,000 genes linked to 13 types of feline cancer, revealing overlaps with human cancer genes, the researchers said.
Louise van der Weyden and co-authors said the results could spur targeted therapies for pets and suggest cats as models for aggressive human breast cancer.
The project involved around 20 institutions and found TP53 as a frequent driver and FBXW7 mutated in more than half of the tumors, researchers reported.
Researchers said the findings point to possible use of drugs such as vinca alkaloids in cats and to broader One Health comparative oncology studies.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the findings optimistically, emphasizing translational benefits for humans and using charged phrases (e.g., "black box", "could hold the key"). Editorial choices prioritize researcher quotes and pet-popularity details while omitting critical perspectives, methodological limits, or independent experts, creating a benefit-focused, anthropocentric narrative.
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FAQ
The study identified that 14% of feline tumors carry mutations for which drugs already exist in human medicine, opening immediate clinical applications.[4] Specifically, researchers discovered that the FBXW7 gene, commonly mutated in feline breast cancer, makes cancer cells more sensitive to vinca alkaloids—chemotherapy compounds already used in humans.[1] Additionally, cats could serve as valuable models for studying aggressive human breast cancer subtypes, as approximately 90% of cat genes are homologous to human genes, making them more comparable than traditional animal models like mice or dogs.[1]
Domestic cats share approximately 90% genetic homology with humans—more than dogs or mice—and crucially, they live in the same environments as humans while experiencing similar environmental stressors that induce tumors.[1] Cats also share non-cancer comorbidities such as diabetes with their human companions, making them an important but previously underutilized resource for tumor research.[3] Additionally, while cancer research in dogs has grown exponentially over a decade with biomarkers already in clinical use, cats were essentially unstudied at a molecular level until this research, leaving a significant gap in comparative oncology.
**TP53** was the most frequently mutated gene across feline tumors, mirroring its importance in human cancers.[2] The study also identified **FBXW7** as a commonly mutated gene in feline breast cancer, along with frequent copy number alterations including loss of **PTEN** or **FAS** or gain of **MYC**.[2] Overall, researchers identified 31 driver genes that could guide future targeted therapies for both cats and humans.[2]
The **One Medicine/One Health** approach is a holistic framework where cross-species comparisons aid both human and animal medicine.[1] This study exemplifies the approach by demonstrating that insights from feline cancers can generate new knowledge and therapies applicable to humans, while simultaneously enabling precision medicine treatments for cats.[1] For example, identifying potentially actionable mutations in cat tumors allows researchers to develop targeted therapies that could work for both species, moving away from blind treatment toward precision medicine.[4]
The study is technically highly robust.[4] Researchers sequenced 493 paired tumor and normal tissue samples from nearly 500 cats across 13 different tumor types, focusing on approximately 1,000 feline orthologs of human cancer genes.[2] The quality was confirmed through multiple validation techniques including whole exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing for cross-checking, and researchers used 3D tumoroids to test drugs in the laboratory, providing real support for computational predictions rather than relying solely on theoretical analysis.[4]
History
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