- Scientists have genetically analysed tumours from 500 cats in a landmark study published in the journal Science, mapping feline cancer genetics on an unprecedented scale.
- The research revealed striking genetic overlaps between feline and human cancers, particularly in aggressive breast cancer where more than 50 per cent of feline tumours harboured mutations in the FBXW7 gene.
- Because domestic cats share real-world environmental hazards with humans, such as household pollutants and secondhand smoke, they offer a valuable model for studying cancer development.
- Laboratory tests demonstrated that tumours carrying the mutated FBXW7 gene were far more vulnerable to specific targeted chemotherapy drugs, opening potential avenues for human precision oncology.
- Researchers have made the complete genetic database freely accessible online to help accelerate precision drug development for both veterinary and human medicine worldwide.
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