Evaluating a Novel Approach to Prevent Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a common and potentially fatal disease of cats. Although feline papillomavirus DNA has been detected in about half of these cancers, the role of the virus in these cancers is unknown. Researchers will evaluate feline skin cancer samples and determine whether papillomaviral DNA is expressed within the cancers. Detection of papillomavirus gene expression would suggest that the virus influences cancer growth. Papillomavirus infection is a known cause of some human cancers, and vaccination against viral infection is used to prevent these cancers. If it can be proven that papillomavirus infection causes feline skin cancers, vaccination could be used to prevent these common cancers in cats.