Cats Participate in Breakthrough Cancer Trial with Minimal Side Effects
First clinical trial in pet cats for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with 35% response rate and minimal side effects Dr. Jennifer Grandis tested drug on cats after consulting with her sister, a vet, as most cats survive 2-3 months post-diagnosis 20 cats enrolled; seven responders lived 161 days with mild anemia Research team working with biotech company to advance compound for pet and human trials Professor Daniel Johnson noted targeting a difficult transcription factor is possible Jak, a 9-year-old cat, lived over 8 months with treatments blocking STAT3 and raising PD-1 Dr. Jennifer Grandis said cancers in cats and humans look similar.