Shared Genetic Mutations in Cats and Humans Offer New Insights into Cancer
A groundbreaking study has revealed striking genetic parallels between feline and human cancers, potentially paving the way for new, shared treatment strategies. The research, coordinated by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, England, and involving researchers at Cornell University, the University of Guelph, and the University of Bern, highlights a common biological challenge in both species. This discovery underscores the importance of comparative oncology – using animal models to better understand human disease.
TP53 Gene Mutations Found in Similar Rates
The most significant finding centers on the TP53 gene, a key regulator of the cell cycle. Mutations in this gene were found in 33% of the feline tumors studied – a figure nearly identical to the 34% observed in a separate study of human cancers. “We no longer consider these problems as separate, but as a common biological challenge,” explained Dr. Latasha Ludwig, co-author of the study and a veterinary pathologist at Cornell University. This genetic similarity is partly attributed to the shared domestic environment of cats and humans, unlike that of laboratory mice typically used in biomedical research, noted Dr. Bruce Kornreich, director of the Cornell Feline Health Center.
Seven Shared Genes Linked to Feline Breast Cancer
The most promising parallels were observed in breast cancer, which can be particularly aggressive in cats. Researchers identified seven “driver” genes whose mutations trigger the disease. The most frequently altered, FBXW7, was present in more than half of the feline breast tumors examined. In humans, mutations in this same gene are associated with a poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Further laboratory studies demonstrated that certain targeted chemotherapies were more effective against feline tumors carrying the FBXW7 mutation – a potential therapeutic avenue that could benefit both species, though further research is needed.
Parallels Extend Beyond Breast Cancer
The study’s findings extend beyond breast cancer. Common mutations between cats and humans were identified in cancers of the blood, bones, lungs, skin, digestive system, and central nervous system. For example, feline squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, exhibits genetic signatures linked to UV exposure, similar to those observed in some human skin cancers. “This illustrates our shared environment,” Dr. Ludwig noted.
Toward Precision Oncology for Cats
The comprehensive dataset of 493 samples analyzed is now freely available to the global scientific community. The study, which aligns with the “One Health” concept – the idea that data sharing between veterinary and human medicine can accelerate therapeutic progress for both – represents a major step forward. “We are moving towards a stage where we can target the specific mutation, and not just the species or type of tumor,” Dr. Ludwig summarized. Dr. Louise Van Der Weyden, of the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the study’s lead author, described the results as the largest advancement ever made in feline oncology.
By establishing the first complete genetic map of cat cancers, this research published in Science transforms the domestic animal into an ally in the fight against human cancer. The shared mutations between the two species open up concrete prospects for cross-species treatments, in a logic of precision medicine that now transcends species boundaries.
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