Cat oncogenome links feline and human cancers

What the study did. Researchers analysed tumours and matched healthy tissue from nearly 500 pet cats across five countries (Canada, the UK, Germany, Austria and New Zealand), screening roughly 1,000 genes known to be associated with human cancer across 13 different feline cancer types. The work — published in Science — created a first large-scale, publicly accessible genomic resource for feline cancer research. ([Read more])

Key genetic findings. The team identified a set of shared driver mutations between cats and humans, including:

• FBXW7 alterations in about half of feline mammary carcinomas
• PIK3CA changes in roughly 47% of those mammary tumours
• Tumour-protein 53 (TP53/p53) as the most commonly mutated gene overall

The study also catalogued seven driver genes for feline mammary carcinoma and reported that some chemotherapy agents showed greater activity in tumour samples with specific mutations.

Comparative insights and the One Medicine approach. Because household pets share environments with their owners, the genomic similarities support a two‑way "One Medicine" strategy: veterinary and human oncology can exchange data, test therapies in naturally occurring tumours in pets, and use those results to inform treatments for both species.

Cats as environmental sentinels and ethical advantages. The researchers note pets live in the same homes as people, so shared mutation patterns (for example, UV‑related signatures) can flag environmental risks. Using donated clinical samples from pet owners also allows scientists to study spontaneous tumours in genetically diverse animals while reducing reliance on laboratory-induced models.

What comes next. The oncogenome resource can be expanded and used to prioritise candidate therapies for clinical testing in cats; successful approaches could then help design human trials. Earlier real‑world veterinary trials (reported in 2025) have already shown that repurposing human cancer drugs can extend survival in some treated cats, underscoring the translational promise of this cross‑species research.

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