Dinosaurs could hold key to cancer discoveries, say Anglia Ruskin University researchers

Discoveries about cancer could be unlocked by using new methods to analyse soft tissue in dinosaur fossils.

Advanced paleoproteomic techniques were used by researchers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Imperial College London, who say they hold promise for uncovering molecular data from ancient specimens.

They used the techniques to discover red blood cell-like structures in a fossil while studying a Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a duck-billed, plant eating ‘marsh lizard’ that lived between 66 to 70 million years ago in the Hateg Basin in present-day Romania.

The new study, published in the journal Biology, used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques to identify low-density structures resembling erythrocytes, or red blood cells, in the fossilised bone.

The findings suggest soft tissue and cellular components may be more commonly preserved in ancient remains than previously thought.

The scientists say that by identifying preserved proteins and biomarkers, they can gain insights into the diseases that affected prehistoric creatures, including cancer.

This could lead to findings that influence future treatments for humans.

Senior author Justin Stebbing, professor of biomedical sciences at ARU, said: “Dinosaurs, as long-lived, large-bodied organisms, present a compelling case for investigating how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years.

“Proteins, particularly those found in calcified tissues like bone, are more stable than DNA and are less susceptible to degradation and contamination. This makes them ideal candidates for studying ancient diseases, including cancer, in paleontological specimens.

“Unlike skeletal structures alone, soft tissues contain proteins that provide molecular information that can reveal the underlying biological mechanisms of disease.

“Our research, using relatively underused methods, invites further exploration that could hold the key to future discoveries that could benefit humans. However, it is crucial that long-term fossil conservation efforts are co-ordinated to ensure that future researchers have access to specimens suitable for cutting-edge molecular investigations.”

The collection and preservation of fossilised soft tissue, rather than just dinosaur skeletons, must be prioritised, the researchers say, as future advancements in molecular techniques will enable deeper insights into disease evolution.

A separate study previously identified evidence of cancer in Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, indicating its deep evolutionary roots.

The new open-access paper can be read at https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/4/370.