Feline cancer is all too common. In fact, as many as one in five cats will be diagnosed with cancer in their life, and many will succumb to this disease. Despite the grim prognosis of feline cancer, this cancer in cats is underfunded and underresearched in cats.
Here at the Flint Animal Cancer Center, we’re doubling down on our efforts to fund research projects and improve outcomes. Meet the researchers working to conquer cat cancer:

Dr. Jenna Burton
- What is your role at the FACC?
- Medical Oncology Faculty Member and Oncology Service Leader
- What feline cancer projects are you currently working on?
- I currently have a collaborative project with a researcher at Boston University looking at a novel therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, which is the most common oral tumor in cats. The disease in cats shares many features with the same disease in people. The first step of this project is to ensure that the drug is well-tolerated by cats with minimal side effects, and this seems to be the case so far. I am also investigating the pharmacokinetics of a chemotherapy drug that is commonly compounded for cats with low-grade gastrointestinal lymphoma. Compounded drugs are not regulated in the same manner as drugs that are FDA-approved. We are looking to see if they absorb and metabolize this oral compounded drug similarly to the FDA-approved versions. This is important to help us understand if cats receiving the compounded version of the drug can fight cancer in the same manner.
- Why do you engage in cat cancer research?
- Anyone who has been owned by a cat knows that they are very different from dogs, and cat-specific oncology research has lagged behind that of dogs. Cats are affected by different cancers, have different responses and tolerability to treatment, metabolize drugs differently, and have different chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, that can affect the decisions that we make for their cancer treatment. We can’t just extract the information we know from dogs and assume it to be true for our cats, so we really need to conduct research specifically for cats to ensure we are finding the best treatments for our feline friends.
- What kinds of cat-specific work do you hope to do in the future?
- I’m investigating the feasibility of developing a machine-learning prediction model to see if we can provide owners with more pre-treatment prognostic information for cats diagnosed with high-grade lymphoma. Currently, survival times can range from a few weeks to a few years so it would be nice to see if we could find a way to provide more information specifically about what their own cat might do with treatment to help guide their decision-making.
- Do you have any cats at home?
- Two! A brother and sister team that was rescued by our lead technician, Jhoni, when they were a day old and raised by her family. They are 4-years-old now and keep me on my toes on a daily basis!

Dr. Craig Webb
- What is your role?
- Small Animal Medicine Specialist who collaborates on research with the FACC for cats with GI Lymphoma
- What feline cancer projects are you currently working on?
- In collaboration with Drs. Avery, Rout, and others, we have identified a genetic defect in a number of cats with GI lymphoma that is the same as some humans with GI cancer. This has given us an exciting new target for treatment specific to these patients that we’ll be testing very soon. I also collaborate with Dr. Tracy Webb on the use of adipose-derived stem cells as a treatment for GI lymphoma. If successful, this could be hugely impactful on the quality of life for the cat and their owners.
- In collaboration with Drs. Avery, Rout, and others, we have identified a genetic defect in a number of cats with GI lymphoma that is the same as some humans with GI cancer. This has given us an exciting new target for treatment specific to these patients that we’ll be testing very soon. I also collaborate with Dr. Tracy Webb on the use of adipose-derived stem cells as a treatment for GI lymphoma. If successful, this could be hugely impactful on the quality of life for the cat and their owners.
- Why do you engage in cat cancer research?
- Who doesn’t love cats? And who doesn’t hate cancer?!
- Who doesn’t love cats? And who doesn’t hate cancer?!
- What kinds of cat-specific work do you hope to do in the future?
- There’s so much left to learn when it comes to cats with GI lymphoma that I’ll probably still be doing that work when I retire.
- Do you have any cats at home?
- Yes, of course. “Mr. Mew” who is aloof and absolutely worships his Mom (Dad is pretty much considered Dog Meat), and “Mufasa”, who is the Apple of Dad’s Eye – we have a very tight relationship including our bedtime routine that includes sitting on the chest for initial petting, then snuggling with Dad – every night.
- Yes, of course. “Mr. Mew” who is aloof and absolutely worships his Mom (Dad is pretty much considered Dog Meat), and “Mufasa”, who is the Apple of Dad’s Eye – we have a very tight relationship including our bedtime routine that includes sitting on the chest for initial petting, then snuggling with Dad – every night.

Dr. Emily Rout
- What is your role at the FACC?
- Clinical Pathologist and Researcher in the Clinical Hematopathology lab
- What feline cancer projects are you currently working on?
- We are studying intestinal lymphoma. This disease can be difficult to differentiate from inflammatory bowel disease, so we are working on improving the diagnostic tools and detection of this disease. We also want to learn more about the mechanisms causing the development and progression of the tumor, so we can ultimately work to prevent progression and offer new treatments.
- Why do you engage in cat cancer research?
- Intestinal lymphoma is one of the most common tumors seen in cats, but it can be challenging to diagnose, and we know little about the tumor’s biology. I want to be able to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this common tumor.
- What kinds of cat-specific work do you hope to do in the future?
- We have found that the majority of cats with small cell T cell intestinal lymphoma have the same mutation. We want to investigate specifically how this mutation is causing cancer and ways to target it.

Dr. Trish Paulos
- What is your role at the FACC?
- Third-year medical oncology resident
- What feline cancer projects are you currently working on?
- I am studying Feline Small Cell Lymphoma. We are looking at the pharmacokinetics of compounded chlorambucil in cats. This means, understanding the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of compounded formulations of chlorambucil in cats with small-cell GI lymphoma. This is foundational research to help us better understand how compounded medications can help cats fight cancer.
- Why do you engage in cat cancer research?
- I was given this project as part of my medical oncology residency but I am happy about it because I love cats and they are often left behind in the research world.
- What is your ultimate goal when it comes to treating cat cancer?
- My goal is to help families have more quality time together through better cat treatment options. It’s my hope that this study gives us more information to make better treatment plans for cats so families get that time.
This research often starts on the benchtop, studying feline cancers in the lab setting. The Clinical Hematopathology Laboratory, working under the direction of Dr. Anne Avery, engages in feline cancer research. This lab aids veterinarians in the accurate diagnosis of hematologic malignancies. Their research is focused on furthering our understanding of these diseases in feline patients.
Clinical trials are often the next step in cancer research. Clinical trials are research studies that help our team improve the detection and treatment of cancers. Our clinical trials program enrolls client-owned pets to evaluate the effectiveness of new drugs, find novel uses of old drugs, or investigate new approaches to surgery and/or radiation therapy to treat cancer. Learn more about our clinical trials program here. To see a list of current feline clinical trials, please click here.
Despite the work being done at the Flint Animal Cancer Center, feline cancer is the least understood and lowest funded of all animal cancer types. We need your help to unlock the mysteries of cat cancer to move the needle on feline cancer diagnostics and treatment. Donate to feline cancer research today.