A novel genetic map of feline cancers, published Thursday in the journal Science, reveals striking similarities to human cancer, potentially opening avenues for new treatments benefiting both species.
The international research effort, led by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, analyzed tumor DNA from nearly 500 domestic cats across five countries, encompassing 13 different cancer types including brain, breast, lung, and skin cancers. Researchers found that many of the genes driving cancer development in cats are mirrored in humans, suggesting shared biological mechanisms underlying tumor growth and spread.
“Cat cancer genetics has totally been a black box up until now,” said lead researcher Louise Van der Wayden, a staff scientist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. “The more One can understand about cancer in any species has got to be beneficial for everybody.”
The study highlighted a particularly significant parallel in feline mammary tumors. More than half of the analyzed samples showed a mutation in the FBXW7 gene, a mutation already known to be associated with aggressive forms of breast cancer in humans. While this mutation isn’t common in human breast cancer its presence indicates a similar aggressive biology in both species.
This finding is particularly valuable given that cats develop this subtype of breast cancer more frequently than humans, providing researchers with a larger pool of samples for study. The increased availability of feline samples could accelerate the development and testing of targeted therapies.
“It’s a really good model for what you see in humans, in terms of the biology of it,” Van der Wayden explained. She added that the discovery could be “great” for women impacted by this specific mutation, potentially paving the way for new treatment strategies.
Researchers noted that cats, like humans, often develop other illnesses alongside cancer, such as diabetes or heart disease, further strengthening their value as a comparative model. They as well share a similar environment with humans, including exposure to pollutants like secondhand smoke.
Encouraged by the genetic similarities, Swiss researchers conducted follow-up experiments on the tumor samples and identified two existing chemotherapy treatments that showed promising effectiveness against tumors with the FBXW7 mutation. These drugs are already approved for both human and veterinary use, potentially allowing for a relatively swift translation of findings into clinical practice.
Harikrishna Nakshatri, a breast cancer researcher at Indiana University, described the results as “fascinating,” suggesting the data could improve understanding of how genes interact with environmental factors in cancer development.
Van der Wayden emphasized the potential for a “win-win” scenario, stating, “We’re genomically so similar, the tumors we develop are so similar. What you learn in one species can be used to help the other.”
