What Feline Cancer Research Tells Us About Treatment Options

by Jon Scaccia October 1, 2024

When it comes to feline cancer, understanding how fast a tumor grows can give us valuable insights into treatment decisions and outcomes. For many cat owners, receiving a cancer diagnosis for their furry friend is a deeply emotional experience. You want to know what to expect, what treatment options are available, and whether those treatments will help your cat live a longer, healthier life. But, the prognosis isn’t always clear, and that’s where recent research can help.

One major factor that veterinarians use to assess cancer progression in cats is mitotic activity—a fancy term for how often tumor cells divide. The more a tumor’s cells are dividing, the more aggressive it is likely to be. A new review from researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, and Freie Universität Berlin has examined dozens of studies to better understand how mitotic activity in feline tumors relates to prognosis. In simpler terms, the researchers are trying to figure out whether measuring how fast a tumor is growing can give us clues about how to treat it.

Let’s break down the key takeaways from this study and why they matter for pet owners.

What Exactly Is Mitotic Activity?

When cells divide, they go through a process called mitosis. For cancer cells, this process is sped up, leading to rapid growth and the spread of the tumor. Veterinarians use two main methods to measure mitotic activity:

• Mitotic Count (MC): This method counts the number of tumor cells that are dividing within a specific area of the tumor.
• Mitotic Index (MI): This measures the percentage of dividing cells among all tumor cells.

The study shows that mitotic count is much more common because it’s easier to apply in everyday veterinary practice. However, both methods can provide crucial information about the tumor’s aggressiveness.

Why Does This Matter?

Understanding how fast a tumor is growing helps veterinarians make better decisions about your cat’s treatment. For example, if a tumor has a high mitotic count, it may be more aggressive, and your vet might recommend more intensive treatments, such as surgery combined with chemotherapy. On the other hand, a tumor with lower mitotic activity might be less aggressive, allowing for less invasive treatments or a “wait and see” approach.

In this study, the researchers reviewed 42 articles on various types of feline tumors, such as mast cell tumors, mammary tumors, and soft-tissue sarcomas. The results showed that for certain tumor types, like mammary tumors, high mitotic activity is consistently linked to shorter survival times. In other words, if your cat has a mammary tumor with high mitotic activity, the outlook may be less positive unless aggressive treatment is pursued.

The Importance of Standardized Methods

One of the challenges highlighted in the study is that there isn’t a single, standardized way to measure mitotic activity across different types of feline tumors. Other studies have used slightly different methods, which makes it harder to compare results. Imagine trying to bake a cake, but everyone is using different measurements for flour and sugar. The cakes will turn out differently, and it’s harder to say which recipe is the best.

That’s why the researchers are calling for more standardized methods of measuring mitotic activity. By ensuring that every veterinary pathologist measures tumor cell division in the same way, we can get more reliable results—and ultimately, better treatment plans for our pets.

What Tumor Types Were Studied?

The review covered a variety of tumor types, but a few stood out for having enough research to draw meaningful conclusions. These include:

• Mast Cell Tumors: These are common skin tumors in cats. The study found that in 71% of cases, higher mitotic activity predicts a shorter survival time. If your cat has a mast cell tumor with high mitotic activity, prompt treatment may be crucial.
• Mammary Tumors: These are tumors in a cat’s mammary glands (similar to breast cancer in humans). In all the studies reviewed, higher mitotic activity was linked to shorter survival times, suggesting that these tumors should be treated aggressively when mitotic activity is high.
• Soft-Tissue Sarcomas: These tumors affect the soft tissues of the body, like muscles and fat. The review found that higher mitotic activity in these tumors also led to shorter survival times in most cases, although the results were slightly less consistent than for mammary and mast cell tumors.

What Does This Mean for Your Cat?

If your cat has been diagnosed with cancer, your veterinarian may recommend measuring the tumor’s mitotic activity to better understand how aggressive the tumor is. While this isn’t the only factor that will guide treatment, it’s a significant one. If your cat’s tumor has a high mitotic count or index, it might mean it needs more aggressive therapy to improve its chances of survival.

What’s Next for Feline Cancer Research?

The researchers stress the need for more studies that use consistent methods to measure mitotic activity. The better we get at measuring how fast a tumor is growing, the better veterinarians can tailor treatments to each individual cat. This could mean fewer unnecessary treatments for slow-growing tumors and more effective interventions for aggressive cancers.

Practical Takeaways for Pet Owners

1. Ask About Mitotic Activity: If your cat is diagnosed with a tumor, talk to your veterinarian about whether measuring mitotic activity could help determine the best treatment plan.
2. Be Proactive: For aggressive tumors with high mitotic activity, early and aggressive treatment can make a big difference in your cat’s quality of life and survival time.
3. Stay Informed: Cancer research is constantly evolving, and studies like this one are helping veterinarians improve their understanding of how to treat feline cancers effectively.

Join the Conversation

Have you ever had a cat diagnosed with cancer? How did your veterinarian approach treatment? Share your experiences and thoughts about this new research in the comments below or on social media. We’d love to hear from you!