Cats Could Help Crack the Code on Human Cancer Treatments

A groundbreaking study suggests that house cats — yes, your whiskered, tree-climbing companions — might hold the key to treating some of the deadliest human cancers.

Researchers tested a first-of-its-kind drug on cats suffering from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a notoriously aggressive cancer that’s tough to treat in both animals and humans. Out of 20 cats enrolled, more than a third responded positively, showing either partial recovery or stable disease with minimal side effects.

The therapy targets a tricky molecule called STAT3, which regulates certain genes and fuels a wide range of tumors. Until now, drugs that go after transcription factors like STAT3 have been extremely difficult to develop.

“This study proves two things,” said Daniel Johnson of the University of California, San Francisco, a co-author of the study. “First, we can successfully target molecules like STAT3. Second, pets with cancer can actually serve as better stand-ins than lab mice for testing treatments that humans might one day use.”

One of the star patients was Jak, a 9-year-old black shorthair who was given only six to eight weeks to live. After receiving weekly treatments for a month, Jak’s symptoms — mostly a watery eye — cleared up, and he survived for more than eight months post-diagnosis.

“During that time, my son finished college and my daughter finished her master’s programme. Jak got to spend one more Christmas with us, and he loved our Christmas tree,” said his owner, Tina Thomas. “He was worth every bit of the effort.”

On average, cats that responded to treatment lived 161 days longer, a significant improvement for a disease that usually kills within two to three months.

Unlike standard lab mice, cats naturally develop cancers that are biologically similar to human versions, making them better test cases for new therapies. Plus, partnering with veterinary oncologists allows researchers to help sick pets while advancing human medicine.

“This study is a great example of rethinking how we use our limited research resources,” said co-author Jennifer Grandis. “Instead of spending so much on mouse models that aren’t great replicas of human cancer, clinical trials in companion animals give us richer data — and, in this case, even extended some cats’ lives.”

The drug, which also boosts the immune system by increasing levels of the cancer-fighting protein PD-1, is still in its early stages of development. But the results are promising enough that researchers believe feline trials could pave the way for new human treatments against one of the toughest cancers out there.

Turns out, your pet might not just be good at catching sunbeams and knocking glasses off counters — they might also be helping science save lives.

The original story by Vishwam Sankaran for the Independent.