Feline Mammary Carcinoma as a Comparative Model of Human Breast Cancer: An Integrative Review
Background: Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) is an aggressive neoplasm in cats and has attracted interest in comparative oncology because selected clinicopathological and molecular features overlap with human breast cancer. Methods: This integrative review synthesized literature was identified in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science from database inception to 30 March 2026, focusing on epidemiology, pathology, biomarkers, tumor microenvironment, omics, therapy, and comparative oncology. Feline-derived evidence was distinguished from the human breast cancer literature, and findings were synthesized qualitatively because of substantial methodological and clinical heterogeneity. Results: FMC shows recurrent associations with aggressive histological features, hormone receptor-negative phenotypes, HER2-related signaling, immune checkpoint pathways, and emerging molecular and liquid-biopsy biomarkers. However, differences in molecular classification, methodology, treatment, cohort size, and clinical validation limit direct cross-species inference. Conclusions: FMC may serve as a complementary, question-specific comparative oncology system for studying selected aspects of aggressive mammary tumor biology, metastasis, tumor–host interactions, biomarkers, and therapeutic response. Its translational relevance remains hypothesis-generating and requires standardized methods and independent clinical validation.
Authors
- Francisco Rodrı́guez-Esparragón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1663-3673)
- Bernardino Clavo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2522-1064)
- Carmen G. Pérez-Santana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6076-9610)
- Ruth Henríquez-Cabrera
- Sara E. Cazorla-Rivero
Institutions
- Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ES)
- Universidad de La Laguna (ES)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín (ES)
- Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ES)
- Fundación Canaria de Investigación Sanitaria (ES)
- Spanish Ovarian Cancer Research Group (ES)
- Universidad del Atlántico Medio (ES)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Infecciosas (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cancers
- Published
- 2026-09-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18183051
- Primary Topic
- Veterinary Oncology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00