Research paper
The oncogenome of the domestic cat
This research shows that studying cat cancers can advance our understanding of tumors in both cats and humans, potentially leading to better treatments and therapies for various cancers.
This study looked at cancer-related mutations in domestic cats and found key similarities to human cancer genes, particularly with frequently mutated genes like TP53. Understanding these similarities helps improve cancer research and treatment for both cats and humans, highlighting the importance of cats in medical research.
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TP53 is the gene that had the most mutations in feline tumors.
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Common copy number alterations in tumors included losses of PTEN or FAS and gains of MYC.
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The study identified 31 driver genes and associated mutational signatures linked to feline cancers.
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Viral sequences and inherited variants that predispose cats to tumors were also identified.
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The findings support the idea that cats can serve as effective models to study human cancers.
Cancer is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in domestic cats. Because the mutational landscape of domestic cat tumors remains uncharacterized, we performed targeted sequencing of 493 feline tumor-normal tissue pairs from 13 tumor types, focusing on the feline orthologs of ~1000 human cancer genes. TP53 was the most frequently mutated gene, and the most recurrent copy number alterations were loss of PTEN or FAS or gain of MYC. By identifying 31 driver genes, mutational signatures, viral sequences, and tumor-predisposing germline variants, our study provides insight into the domestic cat oncogenome. We demonstrate key similarities with the human oncogenome, confirming the cat as a valuable model for comparative studies, and identify potentially actionable mutations, aligning with a "One Medicine" approach.