Sequencing of 493 Feline Tumors Reveals 31 Driver Genes Shared with Human Cancers
Researchers mapped the domestic cat oncogenome across 13 tumor types in a laboratory study, uncovering key genetic similarities with human cancers.
An international research team has sequenced 493 tumor–normal tissue pairs from domestic cats across 13 distinct tumor types, mapping the feline mutational landscape for the first time science.org
Sciencescience.orgOpen source ↗. The project, published in Science, was conducted by scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, the University of Bern, and partner institutions, analyzing samples collected across five countries. The team targeted feline orthologs of approximately 1,000 human cancer genes to assess shared oncogenic pathways.
Mutational Landscape and Driver Genes
Targeted genomic analysis identified 31 cancer driver genes, mutational signatures, viral sequences, and tumor-predisposing germline variants across the feline cohort. According to the authors, TP53 emerged as the most frequently mutated gene across the examined feline malignancies. The most recurrent copy number alterations were the loss of PTEN or FAS, along with gains in MYC. The analyzed cancers spanned tumors of the breast, blood, bone, lungs, skin, and digestive system.
Notable genetic convergence with human oncology appeared in feline mammary carcinomas. Mutations in FBXW7 occurred in more than half of the examined mammary carcinoma samples, while PIK3CA was altered in 47% of these tumors. Because altered PIK3CA pathways represent established therapeutic targets in human breast oncology, the researchers noted these findings highlight relevant biological parallels across species.
In Vitro Testing and Cross-Species Modeling
To evaluate functional outcomes of the observed mutations, the researchers cultured feline tumor tissues in vitro science.org
Sciencescience.orgOpen source ↗. Laboratory assays indicated that feline tumors carrying specific FBXW7 alterations exhibited sensitivity to selected chemotherapy agents in cell culture models. The authors emphasized that these cellular results serve as an experimental lead rather than evidence of therapeutic efficacy in vivo.
The findings position naturally occurring feline tumors as a valuable model for comparative oncology under a "One Medicine" framework. However, the researchers emphasized that this work does not constitute a clinical trial in humans or cats, as cross-species therapeutic responses and dosing require direct clinical evaluation.
