Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and Imperial College London have conducted a groundbreaking study on the Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a plant-eating dinosaur that roamed present-day Romania between 66 and 70 million years ago.

The study reveals that preserved soft tissue in dinosaur fossils could offer valuable insights into cancer research and treatment.

Notably, proteins found in calcified tissues like bone are more stable than DNA, making them ideal for investigating ancient diseases, including cancer.

Previous findings indicated that the Telmatosaurus had an ameloblastoma tumor, a type of cancer still present in humans today, which allows for comparisons in cancer evolution over millions of years.

Senior author Justin Stebbing highlighted that dinosaurs, due to their size and longevity, provide a unique opportunity to study cancer susceptibility and resistance throughout their extensive evolutionary history.

Using high-resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy, the research team identified features resembling erythrocytes in fossilized bone, suggesting that soft tissues may be more commonly preserved than previously believed.

The authors of the study emphasize the necessity of prioritizing the collection and preservation of fossilized soft tissues, as they can yield significant molecular information about the evolution of diseases.

To support future research, the study calls for coordinated fossil conservation efforts to ensure that specimens remain accessible for advanced molecular studies.

The research underscores the importance of preserving dinosaur tissue for future investigations, as advancements in analytical equipment will be ineffective without suitable specimens.

Oncologist Justin Stebbing noted that soft tissues contain proteins that can reveal biological mechanisms of disease, potentially leading to significant breakthroughs in cancer research.

The findings of this research have been published in the journal Biology, contributing to the growing body of knowledge on ancient diseases.