Dinosaur Fossil With Cancer Offers New Clues For Human Treatment, Say Scientists
The presence of preserved soft tissue, which contains proteins, may provide molecular-level insights into diseases like cancer. This rare preservation could help scientists study how such diseases developed in ancient species and inform current medical research.
The authors of the new study highlight the necessity of prioritising the collection and preservation of fossilised soft tissue, rather than just dinosaur skeletons, as future advancements in molecular techniques will enable deeper insights into disease evolution.
A separate study had previously identified evidence of cancer in Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, indicating its deep evolutionary roots.
Senior author Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, 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 palaeontological 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, long-term fossil conservation efforts must be coordinated to ensure that future researchers have access to specimens suitable for cutting-edge molecular investigations."
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Business Standard
25-06-2025
- Business Standard
New data shows just how powerful the next weight-loss drugs may be
Doctors call the new weight-loss drugs revolutionary. Game-changing. Unprecedented. Soon, they may also call them obsolete. Drugmakers are racing to develop the next wave of obesity and diabetes medications that they hope will be even more powerful than those currently on the market. 'I think what we are going to see very quickly is that Wegovy has received a lot of the press attention, because it got there first,' said Simon Cork, a senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University in England who has studied obesity. 'But it will be rapidly overtaken by much more potent medications.' On Saturday, researchers presented data at an annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association on perhaps the most anticipated of these medications: a daily pill. A late-stage study showed that the drug, called orforglipron, appeared to be about as effective as a weekly Ozempic injection at inducing weight loss and lowering blood sugar. It is just one of over a dozen experimental medications that researchers will share data about at the conference this weekend. Some of these drugs are still in early trials, but others could hit the market as soon as next year. They include medications that may lead to more weight loss than the roughly 15 to 20 percent body weight people lose on existing drugs. They may also be easier to take than weekly injections and help people shed pounds without dropping as much muscle. More competition — and, in the case of the pill, lower manufacturing costs — might also mean that, eventually, patients pay less. 'A lot of people are like, 'Oh, we have Ozempic, everything's good now,'' said Megan Capozzi, a research assistant professor at the University of Washington Medicine who studies treatments for diabetes and obesity. 'But I think there are so many more things to improve on.' More convenience, less muscle loss By some estimates, one in eight adults in the United States has already taken a medication like Wegovy or Zepbound. But researchers believe far more people would use — and stick with — weight-loss drugs that did not require weekly injections. Simply put, Dr. Capozzi said, 'people would rather takes pills than shots.' That's why doctors and investors are so excited about orforglipron. Like Ozempic and other drugs on the market, orforglipron mimics a hormone that regulates blood sugar and curbs appetite. In the data presented at the conference, researchers who followed over 500 patients with Type 2 diabetes reported that those who took the highest dose lost an average of around 16 pounds after nine months. Around two-thirds of people who took the drug also saw their blood sugar levels fall to a target range. 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Over the next few days, researchers will also present data on other, earlier-stage drugs that could be more convenient than weekly shots. This includes MariTide, an injectable drug made by the biopharmaceutical company Amgen that patients could take once a month. Some new medications in development are also trying to solve for a persistent side effect of existing drugs: Patients who lose fat also tend to lose muscle. This can be particularly dangerous for older adults because it makes them more likely to fall and can worsen osteoporosis. One experimental drug combines the substance in Ozempic and a compound that blocks the receptors that regulate skeletal muscle and fat mass. Several others simulate the hormone amylin, which has been shown in rodent studies to preserve some lean muscle tissue, though more data is needed in humans. Some researchers remain skeptical that any drug can lead to significant weight loss without sacrificing at least some muscle. 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NDTV
14-06-2025
- NDTV
Dinosaur Fossil With Cancer Offers New Clues For Human Treatment, Say Scientists
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists from the UK and Romania have found evidence of cancer in a 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil - a Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus. The cow-sized herbivore, which lived in what is now Romania, showed signs of a tumour in its jaw. What makes the find even more significant is the presence of soft tissue structures resembling red blood cells near the tumour site, identified using high-powered microscopy. The presence of preserved soft tissue, which contains proteins, may provide molecular-level insights into diseases like cancer. This rare preservation could help scientists study how such diseases developed in ancient species and inform current medical research. The authors of the new study highlight the necessity of prioritising the collection and preservation of fossilised soft tissue, rather than just dinosaur skeletons, as future advancements in molecular techniques will enable deeper insights into disease evolution. A separate study had previously identified evidence of cancer in Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, indicating its deep evolutionary roots. Senior author Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, 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 palaeontological 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, long-term fossil conservation efforts must be coordinated to ensure that future researchers have access to specimens suitable for cutting-edge molecular investigations."
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Time of India
Dinosaurs had cancer 70 million years ago, new study offers clues for cancer treatment
Dinosaurs, the colossal rulers of prehistoric Earth, were not immune to the ailments that still plague modern animals, including cancer. In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have confirmed that a duck-billed dinosaur that lived 70 million years ago suffered from a benign tumour. The fossilised remains of Telmatosaurus Transsylvanicus, found in present-day Romania, contained evidence of a jaw tumour known as ameloblastoma. The condition, still seen in humans today, offers a rare and remarkable link between ancient and modern biology. This finding opens new doors for studying the evolution of diseases and their relevance to human health. Fossil evidence of cancer in dinosaurs Researchers studying the fossil of Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus used high-resolution imaging to identify the presence of ameloblastoma, a benign tumour typically affecting the jaw. While fossilised evidence of disease has been found before, this discovery provides the clearest and most scientifically verified case of cancer in dinosaurs to date. A link between dinosaurs and humans by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The fact that the tumour resembles those found in humans is especially significant. Scientists believe this connection between species separated by millions of years could reveal crucial insights about how cancer has evolved. It suggests that certain diseases have long biological histories, rooted deep in evolutionary time. New methods unlock ancient secrets Teams from Imperial College London and Anglia Ruskin University used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the fossil. They discovered structures resembling red blood cells and preserved proteins, which is remarkable for a 70-million-year-old specimen. Unlike DNA, which degrades over time, proteins can survive and offer new paths for studying ancient life. What dinosaurs can teach us about cancer Understanding how large-bodied, long-lived animals like dinosaurs managed diseases could help researchers develop new cancer treatments. Scientists believe that ancient species may have evolved unique cancer-suppression mechanisms, which could inspire future approaches in human medicine. Preserving fossils for future discoveries The study also highlights the importance of fossil conservation. As molecular science continues to evolve, ancient remains could hold answers to medical questions of the future. "We need to ensure these specimens are preserved for ongoing research," said study co-author Justin Stebbing. A new frontier in medicine and palaeontology This discovery bridges the gap between palaeontology and modern medical science, showing that studying ancient life isn't just about the past. It may help shape the future of disease understanding and treatment. As more fossils are studied with advanced techniques, scientists hope to uncover even more about the hidden health histories of Earth's oldest inhabitants.
