Medicine looks to the past: incredible dinosaur fossil find could save lives today

Dinosaurs could unlock secrets about health and disease, millions of years after their extinction, according to a recent study.

Fossil of dinosaur with a tumor discovered in Romania

Scientists from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Imperial College London have identified red blood cell-like structures in the fossilized bones of Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus - a a duck-billed, herbivorous “marsh lizard” that roamed the Earth between 66-70 million years ago. The fossil was found in Romania’s ancient Hateg Basin - around nine species of dinosaurs are believed to have been indigenous to the area.

“We wanted to see if this tumor in the dinosaur could give us any information about any parallel with human cancers, because the tumor that this dinosaur had was an ameloblastoma, a benign tumor in the jaw, which humans have as well,” Dr Biancastella Cereser, Research Associate at Imperial’s Department of Surgery & Cancer said.

Scientists used advanced paleoproteomic techniques to analyze the fossil, uncovering molecular data that could provide insights into how prehistoric creatures managed cancer susceptibility and resistance. The findings challenge previous assumptions about fossil preservation and highlight the potential for studying ancient diseases to advance modern medical treatments.

The discovery is reshaping how scientists approach fossil preservation and molecular research. Unlike DNA, which degrades over time, proteins are far more stable, making them a reliable source of molecular information in extinct species.

The findings reinforce the idea that diseases like cancer are not exclusive to modern humans but have deep evolutionary roots in vertebrates. Previous research on the same dinosaur, Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, had already identified signs of a malignant tumor, suggesting that prehistoric creatures also faced similar health challenges.

Protein versus DNA

By studying preserved proteins in fossils, scientists hope to uncover biological mechanisms that influenced cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years. Hopefully it could lead to breakthroughs in modern medicine, offering insights into how ancient life forms managed disease.

Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, emphasized the significance of studying dinosaurs in the context of cancer susceptibility and resistance. “Up until recently, the fossil record and finding ancient things was really interesting for finding hard things like shells or skeletons to assess tissues, Professor Stebbing explains. ”But if we’re trying to look at the building blocks of life or the building blocks of cancer, to understand cancer better, what we found was you can actually as well as seeing the skeleton, we can actually see soft tissue as well. We could actually see like the flesh of the cancer. This means we can look at cancer not only occurring in human or in animal models, but we can look at it tens and tens of millions of years ago. It helps us understand the role of environment on cancer".

Cancerous tumors in dinosaurs

Cancer is as ancient as complex life itself. Tumors have been documented in marine reptiles and dinosaurs, but until now, diagnoses relied solely on bone malformations. The ability to study proteins involved in cellular processes—such as cell division and apoptosis—opens new doors to understanding its origins.

Scientists believe these findings could shed light on why certain animals were more resistant to cancer. Dinosaurs, as large and long-lived organisms, faced a higher risk of developing tumors simply due to their greater number of cells and extended lifespans.

If dinosaurs managed to survive with relatively low cancer rates, it could be due to biological mechanisms that remain unknown but could be identified through protein analysis.

The discoveries of the past may translate into future therapies, as Professor Stebbing notes, “If we can understand cancer better, we can come up with better treatments. I do a lot of research in cancer, so, you know, it all comes together. It’s just part of a jigsaw that you are trying to build".

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.