Join us for an engaging RACE-approved webinar highlighting new research on the oral microbiome in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)—one of the most common and aggressive oral cancers in cats. Presented by Dr. Jamie G. Anderson, this session will explore recent findings that reveal significant oral microbial dysbiosis in cats with OSCC compared to healthy controls, including reduced microbial diversity and distinct community shifts. Attendees will gain valuable insight into how these discoveries advance our understanding of disease pathogenesis, support the role of cats as a translational model for human head and neck cancer, and open the door to future innovations in early detection and microbiome-targeted therapeutic strategies.

Learning Objectives

Participants will learn how to:

• Understand the clinical significance of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), including its prevalence, poor prognosis, and need for improved insight into disease mechanisms.
• Recognize evidence demonstrating that feline OSCC is associated with significant oral microbial dysbiosis, including reduced alpha diversity and distinct beta-diversity patterns.
• Identify key taxonomic shifts between healthy and cancer-associated oral microbiomes in cats and discuss their relevance to disease pathogenesis.
• Explore how findings from feline OSCC research contribute to its role as a spontaneous translational model for human head and neck cancer, with implications for biomarker discovery and microbiome-targeted interventions.