Feline Mammary Carcinomas as a Model for Human Breast Cancer: A Case-series Study

Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) is the third most common cancer in cats. Diagnosis of mammary gland tumors (MGTs) increases every year; this might be due to the rise in occurrence or improvements in methods of detecting MGTs. Determinants associated withtheir occurrence are studied in the present paper.

In this case-series study, 40 queens with FMC were referred to the determined major veterinary hospitals of Tehran for treatment between 2020 and 2022; their mammary carcinoma had been confirmed by the attended pathologist. Different parameters including age of cancer diagnosis, breed, reproductive status, BCS, diet type, parity, tumor size, multiple tumors, ER and PR status, location and type of treatment were recorded on the day of presentation using a checklist.

Domestic short hairs were overrepresented. Also, queens with old age (more than 9 years old), homemade diet, sexually intact status, no parity, obesity, ER and PR positivity had higher frequency towards developing FMC. Imbalanced homemade diet energy is a speculated cause.

Humans and their companion animals share the same environment, thus being exposed to the same environmental risks. Although canine mammary tumors have been the focus of human breast cancer (HBC) modeling, this study also aimed to compare current feline mammary carcinoma determinants with previously defined human breast cancer determinants to produce a model. Based on the results of this study, we concluded that FMCs are a proper model to study HBC.