Researchers from institutions including the Wellcome Sanger Institute,Ontario Veterinary College,University of Bern,and Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine,along with collaborators,examined tumors from nearly 500 pet cats in five nations.

They identified genetic mutations that trigger cancer development in felines and noted parallels with those observed in humans.Cats face comparable environmental cancer hazards to their owners,indicating that certain risk factors may be partially shared.

By sequencing DNA from veterinary diagnostic tissue samples,this Science-published study reveals that specific genetic alterations common in cat cancers—such as those in feline mammary tumors mirroring human breast cancers—reflect patterns seen in human oncology.Overall,the findings point to multiple genetic changes warranting deeper exploration through genomics and clinical trials.This could lead to targeted cancer therapies effective for both cats and potentially humans.