Oldest cancer found in ancient human skeleton, archaeologists say

Oldest cancer found in ancient human skeleton, archaeologists say

(Courtesy of the University of Durham)


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DURHAM, England — The oldest case of metastatic cancer was discovered in the 3,000-year-old skeleton of a young man, archaeologists announced Monday.

The metastatic carcinoma found in the skeleton is the oldest complete example of metastatic cancer in a human, researchers from Durham University said. Cancer is referred to as metastic when it starts in one place and then spreads to another part of the body.

“Insights gained from archaeological human remains like these can really help us to understand the evolution and history of modern diseases," lead author Michaela Binder said in a statement. “Our analysis showed that the shape of the small lesions on the bones can only have been caused by a soft tissue cancer even though the exact origin is impossible to determine through the bones alone."

While cancer is one of the leading causes of death today, researchers said there has been little archaeological evidence of it in ancient life, so it has been largely thought to be the result of modern habits. However, they said this skeleton suggests metastatic cancer was also present in ancient times.

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The skeleton was found in a tomb in present-day Sudan that dates back to 1200 B.C., researchers said. They located the skeleton in 2013.

The skeleton is from a man who was between 25- to 35-years-old when he died, researchers said. He was found buried in a painted wood coffin, which had deteriorated, with a glazed faience amulet.

There was evidence of cancer on the man's collar bones, shoulder blades, upper arms, vertebrae, ribs, pelvis and thigh bones, according to researchers from Durham University and the British Museum.

They hope the findings will provide insight into the elements that cause cancer. They speculated that the man's cancer may have been triggered by environmental carcinogens like smoke from wood fires, genetics or infectious diseases.

“Through taking an evolutionary approach to cancer, information from ancient human remains may prove a vital element in finding ways to address one of the world’s major health problems," Binder said.

The findings from the skeleton were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

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Natalie Crofts

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