Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
p53 protein and secondhand smoke in cat mouth cancer
By Snyder, L A et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2004·Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: p53 expression and environmental tobacco smoke exposure in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were studied to see if exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affected their cancer. Out of 23 cats, 15 showed a specific protein (p53) that is often linked to cancer. Cats exposed to ETS were found to be 4.5 times more likely to have this protein overexpressed in their tumors, especially those exposed for five years or more. This suggests that living in a smoke-filled environment may increase the risk of developing this type of cancer in cats.
People also search for: cat oral cancer symptoms · feline squamous cell carcinoma treatment · environmental tobacco smoke effects on cats
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of p53 overexpression in feline oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and to determine, if any, the association between p53 overexpression and lifestyle factors and environmental exposures, including exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Questionnaires concerning exposure to ETS and other environmental factors were sent to owners of cats presenting to the Harrington Oncology Program with a diagnosis of oral SCC between 1991 and 2000. Additionally, 23 formalin-fixed biopsy samples from these cats, with information regarding ETS, were evaluated immunohistochemically for p53 expression using the CM-1 clone and the avidin-biotin-horseradish peroxidase method. Of the 23 samples evaluated, 15 (65%) showed positive nuclear staining for the CM-1 clone. Tumor biopsy samples from cats exposed to any ETS were 4.5 times more likely to overexpress p53 than were tumors from unexposed cats (P = 0.19). Among cats with any ETS exposure, those with 5 years or longer of exposure were 7.0 times more likely to overexpress p53 (P = 0.38). Longhaired cats (P = 0.18) and female cats (P = 0.35) were also more likely to show p53 expression in their tumors. These results provide additional support for a relationship between oral SCC development and exposure to household ETS and may implicate p53 as a potential site for carcinogen-related mutation in this tumor.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15133168/