Cancer in 3000-Year-Old Skeleton Could Help Understand Metastatic Carcinoma Evolution

Researchers at Durham University have found possibly the world's oldest complete metastatic cancer in a 3000-year-old skeleton.

The skeleton dates back to 1200BC and was discovered in a tomb in modern Sudan in 2013. The finding isn't just important from an archaeological viewpoint, but also for scientists interested in understanding the evolution of cancers.

Cancer is considered to be associated with modern living and increased lifespan as there is precious little data available on ancient humans developing cancers. The present study shows that cancer- even the deadly metastatic carcinoma- could develop in young men. Metastatic cancer is the cancer that spreads to other parts of the body.

"Very little is known about the antiquity, epidemiology and evolution of cancer in past human populations apart from some textual references and a small number of skeletons with signs of cancer," said lead author, Michaela Binder, a PhD student in the Department of Archaeology at Durham University.

"Insights gained from archaeological human remains like these can really help us to understand the evolution and history of modern diseases," Binder said in a news release.

The skeleton used in the study was of an adult man who lived in Sudan. He was 25-35 years at the time of his death. The man was buried in a tomb reserved for high-status people in the town.

In the present study, researchers at Durham University and the British Museum used radiography and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to analyze the lesions on the bones. The team found that cancer had spread to collar bones, upper arms, ribs and even pelvis and thigh bones.

Researchers aren't sure how the person developed cancer. He might've had an underlying genetic defect, or was exposed to carcinogen via smoke or had a disease called schistosomiasis, which is caused by schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis or bilharzias still affects several people in tropical and subtropical countries. The disease has affected people living near the river Nile since 1500BC and is now recognized as a cause for bladder cancer in men.

The study was funded by Leverhulme Trust and the Institute of Bioarchaeology Amara West Field School and is published in the journal PLOS One.

This isn't the first time that researchers have tried looking for evolution of disease in ancient skeletons. Recently, researchers had found that a 500-year-old mummy from Inca had Chagas disease- a tropical disease common in South and Central America. Analysis of her skeleton will help researchers get a better idea about the evolution and growth of Chagas.