Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in both people and pets. It develops when cells grow out of control and form tumors that can spread to other parts of the body, a process called metastasis.
Finding better ways to understand cancer is important because it could lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments.
A large international study has now found that many cancers in cats are surprisingly similar to cancers in humans. The discovery suggests that studying naturally occurring cancer in pet cats may help scientists learn more about the disease in both animals and people. The research was published in the journal Science.
The study brought together researchers from several leading institutions who analyzed tumors from nearly 500 pet cats living in five countries. They examined the genetic changes inside the tumors to understand what causes different cancers to develop and grow. It is the largest study of its kind ever carried out in cats.
One reason cats are useful for this research is that they share the same homes and environments as their owners. They are often exposed to similar air pollution, household chemicals, and other environmental factors that may influence cancer risk. This gives scientists a chance to study how everyday exposures may affect both species.
The researchers focused on about 1,000 genes already linked to cancer in people. They studied 13 types of feline cancer, including cancers of the breast, blood, skin, lungs, and digestive system. In many cases, they found that the same cancer-related genes were altered in both cats and humans.
One important finding involved mammary cancer in cats, which closely resembles breast cancer in women. More than half of these feline tumors contained changes in a gene called FBXW7, which is also linked to aggressive human cancers. The team also found frequent changes in the PIK3CA gene, a well-known target for several modern breast cancer medicines.
The scientists also tested how some tumor samples responded to different cancer drugs in the laboratory. Tumors with certain genetic changes responded better to specific treatments, suggesting that more personalized cancer care could be possible in the future. More studies will be needed to confirm whether these results work as well in living patients.
The findings support an idea known as ‘One Medicine,’ which recognizes that human and animal health are closely connected. By sharing knowledge between doctors and veterinarians, researchers may be able to speed up the development of new treatments, improve early detection, and better understand how cancer develops.
The researchers say there are still important questions to answer. Although the genetic similarities are impressive, cats and humans are not identical, and laboratory findings must be confirmed through further studies. Even so, this research marks a major step forward in understanding cancer across different species.
The study shows that pet cats may provide valuable clues that benefit both veterinary and human medicine. As scientists continue this work, the discoveries could lead to more precise treatments and better outcomes for cancer patients, whether they walk on two legs or four.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
