Daijiworld Media Network - Cambridge
Cambridge, Feb 26: In a breakthrough that could reshape cancer research, scientists have produced the first detailed genetic map of cancer in domestic cats, uncovering striking similarities with human forms of the disease. The findings could pave the way for improved treatments benefiting both species.
An international team led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute analysed tumour DNA from nearly 500 pet cats. Researchers examined around 1,000 genes associated with 13 types of feline cancer, identifying key mutations that drive tumour growth and spread.
Lead researcher Louise Van der Weyden said the study marks a major step forward in understanding the disease.
“Cat cancer genetics has totally been a black box up until now. The more we can understand about cancer in any species has got to be beneficial for everybody,” she noted.
The study found that many of the genetic drivers of cancer in cats are mirrored in humans, suggesting shared biological mechanisms. Scientists believe this overlap could help accelerate the development of new therapies, particularly for aggressive forms such as triple-negative breast cancer — a subtype that accounts for around 15% of breast cancer cases in humans. Cats develop this subtype more frequently, offering researchers valuable access to samples and insights into potential new treatments.
Despite cancer being a leading cause of illness and death in cats, research in feline oncology has lagged behind similar studies in dogs. With nearly a quarter of UK households owning at least one cat, experts say understanding feline cancer has both veterinary and human health implications.
Geoffrey Wood of the Ontario Veterinary College highlighted the broader significance of the findings, noting that household pets share living spaces and environmental exposures with humans.
“This can help us understand more about why cancer develops in cats and humans, how the world around us influences cancer risk, and possibly find new ways to prevent and treat it,” he said.
Researchers believe the study opens a new frontier in comparative oncology, where insights from pets living alongside humans may unlock answers to some of medicine’s most complex challenges.