Genomic landscape and gene expression profiles of Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We have used whole exome sequencing (WES) to discover somatic mutations that may be potential drivers of this cancer and investigated gene expression in FOSCC. FOSCC may present as a potential model to study oral squamous head and neck cancer due to spontaneous formation, similar genetic landscape, physical and histological appearance. This is the first study using exome sequencing to identify somatic mutations in any cancer that affects domestic cats. We have identified single nucleotide variants (SNVs) on six cats with FOSCC and identified driver genes in common with HNSCC.

本研究采用全外显子组测序（whole exome sequencing, WES）筛选可作为该癌症潜在驱动因子的体细胞突变，并对猫口腔鳞状细胞癌（Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, FOSCC）的基因表达情况进行了分析。鉴于其自发性发生、相似的遗传图谱以及一致的形态与组织学特征，FOSCC可作为研究口腔头颈部鳞状细胞癌的潜在模型。本研究是首个利用外显子组测序技术在任何累及家猫的癌症中鉴定体细胞突变的相关研究。我们已在6只罹患FOSCC的家猫中鉴定出单核苷酸变异（single nucleotide variants, SNVs），并发现了与头颈部鳞状细胞癌（Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, HNSCC）共有的驱动基因。