Scientists find cancer in million-year-old fossil
Until this discovery, the oldest known tumor in a human body was only 120,000 years old
PHOTO SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
A discovery by British and South African scientists has revealed cancer existed in human ancestors over a million years ago, contradicting theories that it is a modern disease.
Till date, it was believed that cancer is caused by lifestyle factors. Further, until this discovery, the oldest known tumor in a human body was only 120,000 years old.
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However, a team of scientists from the the University of the Witwatersrand's Evolutionary Studies Institute and the South African Centre for Excellence in Palaeo Sciences, discovered evidence of cancer in a foot bone and spine from two ancient hominin specimens in South Africa. Reports revealed that the foot fragment is about 1.7 million years old, while the vertebrae almost 2 million years old.
Edward John Odes of Wits University's School of Anatomical Sciences stated that there may be a possibility that the cancer evidence found in the foot bone was from prehistoric times. "We tested this particular bone with a known modern human osteosarcoma specimen, and it looked identical." "Millions of years old, and you wouldn't be able to tell it apart."
Scientists, however, fail to answer how after all these years, cancer hasn't changed.
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"What we do have is that these types of cancers existed so many years ago, and we are seeing the same thing today." Odes said. "Normally, in an evolutionary biological situation, you'd see change."
Further, until the discovery was made, scientists remained firm on the belief that cancer didn't exist in ancient times, also because there was no proof for them to think otherwise. But now that these bones have been found, it is likely that the understanding of cancer's origins and processes will also evolve.
"This kind of research changes perceptions of cancer," said Patrick Randolph-Quinney of the University of Central Lancashire. "The takeaway is the notion that cancer is a huge continuous problem in the developed world. Even if we have very healthy, perfect lifestyles we still have the capacity for cancer. It is an inherent part of our evolutionary process."
Can the discovery benefit cancer research?
Cancers today have several variables. "These days, we have cancers that are entirely new, brought on by obesity and diet, alcohol, smoking," Randolph-Quinney said. "There is a direct causal link."
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Evidence of tumor found in the ancient bones were primary osteogenic cancers, hence implying they weren't due to environmental factors, or other reasons which could support their existence. Since such cancers still exist today, the recent discovery could become a basis for further research.
"There has to be something else that's (causing cancer)," Odes said. "We don't know know what it is at this stage. We know the capacity for malignancy is ancient.
"We also know that there are mechanisms that bring these tumors and cancers. The question is, how can we apply these mechanisms to understand the evolution of cancer from ancient times into this modern world?"
This article originally appeared on CNN.
Till date, it was believed that cancer is caused by lifestyle factors. Further, until this discovery, the oldest known tumor in a human body was only 120,000 years old.
Pakistani scientist develops device to diagnose cancer rapidly
However, a team of scientists from the the University of the Witwatersrand's Evolutionary Studies Institute and the South African Centre for Excellence in Palaeo Sciences, discovered evidence of cancer in a foot bone and spine from two ancient hominin specimens in South Africa. Reports revealed that the foot fragment is about 1.7 million years old, while the vertebrae almost 2 million years old.
Edward John Odes of Wits University's School of Anatomical Sciences stated that there may be a possibility that the cancer evidence found in the foot bone was from prehistoric times. "We tested this particular bone with a known modern human osteosarcoma specimen, and it looked identical." "Millions of years old, and you wouldn't be able to tell it apart."
Scientists, however, fail to answer how after all these years, cancer hasn't changed.
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"What we do have is that these types of cancers existed so many years ago, and we are seeing the same thing today." Odes said. "Normally, in an evolutionary biological situation, you'd see change."
Further, until the discovery was made, scientists remained firm on the belief that cancer didn't exist in ancient times, also because there was no proof for them to think otherwise. But now that these bones have been found, it is likely that the understanding of cancer's origins and processes will also evolve.
"This kind of research changes perceptions of cancer," said Patrick Randolph-Quinney of the University of Central Lancashire. "The takeaway is the notion that cancer is a huge continuous problem in the developed world. Even if we have very healthy, perfect lifestyles we still have the capacity for cancer. It is an inherent part of our evolutionary process."
Can the discovery benefit cancer research?
Cancers today have several variables. "These days, we have cancers that are entirely new, brought on by obesity and diet, alcohol, smoking," Randolph-Quinney said. "There is a direct causal link."
12 ways to staying cancer-free
Evidence of tumor found in the ancient bones were primary osteogenic cancers, hence implying they weren't due to environmental factors, or other reasons which could support their existence. Since such cancers still exist today, the recent discovery could become a basis for further research.
"There has to be something else that's (causing cancer)," Odes said. "We don't know know what it is at this stage. We know the capacity for malignancy is ancient.
"We also know that there are mechanisms that bring these tumors and cancers. The question is, how can we apply these mechanisms to understand the evolution of cancer from ancient times into this modern world?"
This article originally appeared on CNN.