The Current Your cat's DNA could help treat human cancer
Mar 11, 2026
Geoffrey Wood, a University of Guelph pathobiology professor who co-led a large comparative cancer genetics study. He describes sequencing ~500 cat cancers. The conversation covers why cats mirror human cancers, how samples were collected and analyzed, and how feline genetic findings could inform One Medicine approaches to benefit both species.
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Cat Tumors Mirror Human Cancer Genetically
- Cats' spontaneous tumors closely mirror human cancers at the genetic level.
- Geoffrey Wood sequenced DNA from ~500 preserved cat tumors across five countries to compare mutations with human cancer genes.
Herding 500 Cat Tumor Samples
- The study used biopsy and surgery samples collected from veterinary clinics and tumor banks.
- Geoffrey Wood retrieved DNA from preserved samples and sequenced them using newer technology across multiple countries.
Why Cats Are Better Cancer Models Than Mice
- Pet cats are better comparative models than lab mice for many cancers because they're outbred, spontaneous, and share human environments.
- Cats breathe the same air, drink the same water, and develop comorbidities like humans, unlike controlled lab mice.