Scientists study the feline oncogenome and compare it to the human one

Does the press release accurately reflect the study?

“Yes, it is very faithful. It accurately summarizes the analysis of the 493 pairs of samples and the 13 types of tumors. It rightly highlights that TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene and validates the One Medicine approach. The release captures the essence of the work well, emphasizing how this genetic map makes it possible to use shared genetics so that what we know from human medicine can help in veterinary medicine, and vice versa.”

Is the study of good quality?

“Without a doubt, it is technically highly robust. It not only sequences DNA, but also compares tumor tissue with healthy tissue from the same cat to rule out genetic background noise. The quality is confirmed by validating the data with cross-checking techniques (WES and Sanger) and, above all, by using 3D tumoroids to test drugs in the laboratory, which provides real support for the computational predictions.”

How does it fit with the existing evidence?

“It is the map we were missing. While in dogs molecular oncology has experienced a decade of exponential growth and biomarkers are already being used in clinical practice, in cats we were essentially in the dark, with only a couple of studies based on very small samples. This work puts the cat on the same level as the dog and the human, confirming that we share the same genetic patterns.”

Confounding factors and limitations?

“The authors are honest: by focusing only on the 1,000 human cancer genes, we may be missing mutations that exist only in cats. In addition, the catalog of feline genetic variants is still in its early stages and requires further validation. Regarding the detected papillomavirus, they warn that being infected does not equate to having cancer, since the virus also appears in healthy cats; cofactors such as UV light are needed.”

Implications for the real world?

“Immediate clinical impact. The study reveals that 14% of feline tumors have mutations for which drugs already exist in human medicine. In clinical practice, we are already using targeted therapies (such as KIT inhibitors), and this map confirms why they work.

Most importantly, this work opens the door for clinical centers like our hospital to conduct more precise clinical trials. Knowing that a cat with mammary cancer and an FBXW7 mutation may potentially respond better to vincristine means that, if we can demonstrate it, we will stop treating blindly and move toward precision medicine.”