Ancient Egyptian skulls reveal 4,000-year-old cancer mystery

In a remarkable discovery, an international team of researchers has found evidence suggesting ancient Egyptians may have attempted treatments or medical explorations of human cancer, including possible cancer surgery, over 4,000 years ago. The findings, published Wednesday in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, provide an extraordinary new perspective on the origins of cancer treatment.

The researchers examined two 4,000-year-old Egyptian skulls from the University of Cambridge's Duckworth Collection. One skull belonged to a man aged 30 to 35 who lived between 2687 and 2345 BC. The other was from a woman over 50 years old, dating back to 663-343 BC.

On the male skull, the scientists noted around 30 small, round lesions scattered across the bone - telltale signs of a tumor. Astonishingly, they discovered evidence that someone had intentionally cut around these lesions using a sharp tool or instrument in ancient times, suggesting one of the earliest known attempts at cancer surgery.

"When we first observed the cutmarks under the microscope, we could not believe what was in front of us," said Tatiana Tondini, who co-authored the study.

The female skull also exhibited bone destruction from a cancerous tumor as well as two healed lesions from injuries, which may indicate ancient cancer surgery or treatment attempts.

While incomplete remains prevent definitively determining medical histories, the authors suggest these markings indicate ancient Egyptians had some understanding of cancer as a disease and perhaps rudimentary attempts at cancer surgery over 4,000 years ago.

"This is an extraordinary new perspective in our understanding of the history of medicine," said lead author Edgard Camarós. "This study contributes to the origins of cancer surgery research and sets an encouraging base for future study of paleo-oncology."

While urging caution in over-interpreting the limited evidence, Camarós expressed optimism about what these markings could reveal about the ancient world's medical knowledge, including possible early cancer surgery techniques.

"More studies will be needed to untangle how ancient populations understood and attempted cancer surgery or treatments," Tondini said.  

The researchers emphasize their findings do not definitively prove surgery for cancer in ancient times, but suggest ancient Egyptians had a degree of medical knowledge about the condition and made some of the earliest known attempts at cancer surgery over four millennia ago.