An international research team has completed the most detailed genetic map of feline cancer to date, revealing striking similarities between tumors in cats and those found in humans. The findings, published in the journal Science, could pave the way for new diagnostic tools and treatment strategies benefiting both species.
The study, led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the United Kingdom, the Ontario Veterinary College in Canada and the University of Bern in Switzerland, analyzed tumor samples from nearly 500 domestic cats across five countries. Researchers sequenced 978 genes linked to tumor development, focusing on those with known counterparts in human cancer.
The analysis revealed that approximately 90% of genes in the domestic cat are homologous to those in humans – a higher degree of similarity than observed with dogs or mice, according to the research. This genetic overlap suggests that cats could serve as a natural model for studying cancer development and testing potential therapies.
“The cancer is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in older cats. However, very little is known about the genetics that drives these cancers,” said Louise van der Weyden, senior author of the study at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. She explained that the lack of targeted therapies for cats, unlike the precision medicine approaches increasingly used in human oncology, motivated the effort to characterize the genetic drivers of feline cancer.
One significant finding centered on breast cancer in cats. The team identified seven driver genes associated with aggressive tumors, with FBXW7 being the most frequently mutated, appearing in over half of the analyzed cases. Mutations in FBXW7 are also linked to poorer prognoses in human breast cancer, including the aggressive “triple negative” subtype, which is more common in cats than in women.
Researchers also discovered that cancer cells carrying mutations in FBXW7 were more sensitive to vinca alkaloids, compounds commonly used in human chemotherapy. This suggests that these existing drugs could potentially be repurposed for veterinary use.
The second most common driver gene in feline mammary carcinomas was identified as PIK3CA, present in 47% of cases. This gene is also frequently mutated in human breast tumors, and inhibitors of PI3K are already employed as treatments for humans.
The study extended beyond breast cancer, identifying genetic similarities in tumors affecting the blood, bones, lungs, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system. Shared mutations were observed in lymphomas, osteosarcomas, and meningiomas, reinforcing the potential for cats to provide spontaneous models for human neoplasia research.
“By comparing cancer genomics across different species, we gain a better understanding of the underlying causes of the disease,” said Bailey Francis, a co-author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute. “One of our key findings was that the genetic changes in feline cancer are similar to those observed in humans and dogs. This could be beneficial for both veterinary and human cancer researchers, demonstrating that when knowledge and data flow between different disciplines, we all can benefit.”
Sven Rottenberg, a co-lead author from the University of Bern, highlighted the value of the extensive tissue samples used in the study. “The access to such a large set of donated tissues allowed us to evaluate drug responses in different tumor types in a way that had not been possible before on this scale. This is a powerful tool that helps us identify potential novel therapeutic options that we hope will one day be applicable in clinical practice, for both cats and humans.”
The researchers have made the feline genomic resource freely available to the scientific community, fostering further investigation and comparative analysis across species. The study underscores the growing recognition of the “One Health” concept, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and the potential for collaborative advancements in medicine.