Scientists map feline cancer genetics for the first time
Researchers have produced the first detailed genetic map of cancer in domestic cats, revealing clear similarities with human cancers. The findings could help develop new treatments for both cats and humans.
The team analysed tumour DNA from nearly 500 cats and identified key genetic mutations driving 13 types of feline cancer. Until now, scientists knew very little about how cancer develops in cats.
“Cat cancer genetics has totally been a black box up until now,” said lead researcher Dr Louise Van der Wayden. “The more we understand cancer in any species, the more it benefits everyone.”
Shared genetic drivers between cats and humans
The international team, led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, examined around 1,000 genes linked to feline cancers. They found that many of the same genes drive tumours in humans, showing that cats and people share fundamental biological processes that allow cancers to grow and spread.
Researchers say the domestic cat could provide valuable insights into aggressive breast cancers in humans, such as triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for roughly 15% of cases. Cats develop this subtype more frequently than humans, giving scientists access to samples and potential clues for new medicines.
Cats as a model for environmental cancer factors
While dogs have been studied extensively for cancer, scientists have largely ignored cats. Living in the same spaces as humans, cats face similar environmental factors that may influence cancer risk.
“This research helps us understand why cancer develops in cats and humans, how environmental factors influence risk, and how we might prevent and treat it,” said Prof Geoffrey Wood of the Ontario Veterinary College, Canada.
The study marks a major step toward understanding feline cancer biology and its links to human disease, highlighting the potential for cross-species medical advances.
The research appears in the journal Science.
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