First detailed genetic map of cancer in domestic cats reveals striking similarities to human versions of the disease, which could help find new ways to treat cancer in both species.
Scientists analyzed the tumor DNA of almost 500 domestic cats and identified important genetic mutations associated with the disease.
O is a leading cause of illness and death in cats; however, very little is known about how it develops.
“The genetics of cancer in cats has been a real mystery until now”, says the researcher Louise Van der Weydenleader of the study in the journal Science. “The more we can understand cancer in any species, the better for everyone.”
The international team, led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, United Kingdom, analyzed around a thousand genes associated with 13 types of feline cancer. The researchers found that Many of the genes that drive cancer in cats are similar to those found in humanswhich suggests that the two species share essential biological processes that allow tumors to grow and spread.
Scientists say the domestic cat may hold the key to understanding certain types of mother’s cancersuch as triple negative breast cancer. About 15 out of every 100 cases of breast cancer are this type. Cats develop this subtype more often than people, giving scientists access to samples and offering clues to new drugs that could help with treatment.
Although cancer studies have largely been performed in dogs, cats have remained unexplored.
Scientists say both pets may provide clues about the environmental factors involved in some types of cancer. They share the same spaces as us, which means they are also exposed to the same environmental factors as humans.
“This could help us better understand 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,” says Geoffrey Wood of the Ontario Veterinary College in Canada.
