A new study suggests that cancer behaves in similar ways in cats and humans and that understanding how to treat it in one species could assist with treatment in the other.
اعلان Approximately 26 percent of European households – nearly 139 million families – own at least one cat, according to recent data from the European Pet Food Industry Federation.
Cancer is a leading cause of illness and death in cats, but researchers note that relatively little is known about how it develops. Domestic cats are exposed to some of the same environmental cancer risks as their owners, suggesting that some causes may be shared.
“By comparing cancer genomes across different species, we gain a broader understanding of what causes cancer,” said Billy Francis, co-first author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute for Genome Research.
The research found that genetic changes in cat cancers resemble some of those observed in humans and dogs. “This can help veterinary specialists as well as human cancer researchers, as it shows that sharing knowledge and data across disciplines benefits everyone,” Francis added.
The research team examined nearly 500 domestic cats across seven countries, sequencing DNA from tissue samples previously collected for veterinary purposes. They searched for approximately 1,000 genes linked to cancer in humans, including 13 different types of feline cancer, allowing them to compare genetic changes with those seen in human and canine cancers.
Researchers discovered that in some cancer types, the genetic drivers in cats closely match those found in humans. In total, 31 cancer-driving genes were identified, opening the door for new research in both veterinary and human oncology, according to the study.
The TP53 gene was the most frequently mutated in cat tumors, accounting for 33 percent of all tumors – a rate nearly mirroring the 34 percent observed in humans. These mutations promote cancer development by disabling the gene’s function in suppressing tumor growth.
Similarities in Breast Cancer
Researchers identified similarities between mammary tumors in cats and breast cancers in humans. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, while mammary gland cancer is one of the most common cancers in female cats.
Cancers in cats and humans share driver genes that typically control cell growth, but when these genes undergo mutations, they allow tumors to grow and spread uncontrollably. The most common driver gene in feline mammary cancer was FBXW7, with variations found in more than 50 percent of cat tumors. This gene is associated with worse disease outcomes in humans.
“The availability of this large number of donated tissues allowed us to assess the response of tumors to different drugs across multiple tumor types, in a way that was not previously possible on this scale,” said Sven Rothenberg, senior co-author of the study from the University of Bern in Switzerland. He added that this could be a tool to help identify potential new treatment options that may one day be applied in clinical practice, for both cats and humans.
