The study marks a major step forward for the veterinary oncology field
Landmark Feline Cancer Study Reveals New Genetic Insights That Could Transform Treatment Options For Cats
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The first large‑scale genetic study of cancer in pet cats has uncovered crucial cancer‑driving mutations that closely mirror those seen in humans, offering new opportunities to advance diagnosis, prognostication and treatment for cats with cancer.
Part funded by CVS, the research - published in Science - marks a major step forward for the veterinary oncology field and could accelerate the development of more targeted therapeutic approaches for feline patients.
Conducted by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in collaboration with Finn Pathologists and partners across six countries, the study analysed nearly 500 tumours representing 13 different feline cancer types. It is the first time that such a comprehensive genomic profiling effort has been undertaken in cats.
By sequencing tumour and matched healthy tissue samples, researchers screened for around 1,000 genes known to drive cancer in humans. Their analysis revealed that many of the same genetic changes underpin cancer development in cats, particularly in mammary carcinoma, blood cancers, bone tumours, lung neoplasms, gastrointestinal cancers and tumours of the central nervous system.
For veterinary professionals, these findings provide important new avenues for prognostic research, understanding disease progression, and potentially guiding treatment decisions based on genetic information - an approach already transforming care in human oncology.
One of the most clinically significant findings relates to feline mammary carcinoma, an aggressive cancer that remains challenging to manage. Researchers identified seven driver genes strongly associated with tumour development. The most common, FBXW7, was mutated in more than 50% of samples. In human breast cancer, FBXW7 mutations correlate with poorer prognosis - an insight that could help clinicians better predict outcomes for feline patients showing similar mutations.
The second most common driver, PIK3CA, was detected in 47% of feline mammary carcinoma cases. This is already a well‑established driver of human breast cancer and is treated with PI3K inhibitors in human medicine. Although further research is required before these drugs could be considered for veterinary use, the strong genomic parallels point towards potential therapeutic repurposing in the future.
Early in‑vitro testing also suggested that certain chemotherapy agents may be more effective in tumours carrying FBXW7 mutations. While these results require additional validation, they hint at the future possibility of tailoring chemotherapy choices to tumour genotype.
Beyond specific treatment implications, the study establishes the first widely accessible genomic resource for feline cancers - a tool that could significantly enhance clinical research, support veterinary oncologists and pathologists, and encourage pharmaceutical engagement with feline cancer therapies.
Bailey Francis, co‑first author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: “By comparing cancer genomics across different species, we gain a greater understanding of what causes cancer. One of our major findings was that the genetic changes in cat cancer are similar to some that are seen in humans and dogs. This could help experts in the veterinary field as well as those studying cancer in humans, showing that when knowledge and data flows between different disciplines, we can all benefit.”
The study was part‑funded by CVS Group, which contributed £64,000 through its Research Grants Programme. The programme supports clinical research designed to advance veterinary knowledge and improve health outcomes for animals under veterinary care.
Imogen Schofield, Director of Research and Data Science at CVS, said: “We are proud to support research that directly contributes to better clinical outcomes for the animals we care for. This study represents one of the most important advances in feline oncology to date, and the insights it provides will help veterinary teams make more informed decisions and, ultimately, offer more personalised care to cats with cancer.”
Dr Louise Van Der Weyden, senior author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, added: “This is one of the biggest ever developments in feline oncology and means the genetics of domestic cat tumours are no longer a ‘black box’. We can now begin to take the next steps towards precision feline oncology, to catch up with the diagnostic and therapeutic options that are available for dogs with cancer, and ultimately one day, humans.”
As cancer remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in cats, these genomic insights offer new hope for earlier detection, better prognostic clarity and, in the long term, more effective and personalised treatment strategies for feline patients.
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