Osteogenic tumour in Australopithecus sediba: Earliest hominin evidence for neoplastic disease

Abstract

We describe the earliest evidence for neoplastic disease in the hominin lineage. This is reported from the type specimen of the extinct hominin Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa, dated to 1.98 million years ago. The affected individual was male and developmentally equivalent to a human child of 12 to 13 years of age. A penetrating lytic lesion affected the sixth thoracic vertebra. The lesion was macroscopically evaluated and internally imaged through phase-contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography. A comprehensive differential diagnosis was undertaken based on gross- and micro-morphology of the lesion, leading to a probable diagnosis of osteoid osteoma. These neoplasms are solitary, benign, osteoid and bone-forming tumours, formed from well-vascularised connective tissue within which there is active production of osteoid and woven bone. Tumours of any kind are rare in archaeological populations, and are all but unknown in the hominin record, highlighting the importance of this discovery. The presence of this disease at Malapa predates the earliest evidence of malignant neoplasia in the hominin fossil record by perhaps 200 000 years.

Ancient oncogenesis, infection and human evolution

“…Early confirmation of neoplastic disease is however indicated by a lesion on an archaic Homo mandible from Kanam, Kenya (Phelan et al., ), and a fibrous dysplasia on a Neanderthal rib dated to 120 ka from the site of Krapina, Croatia (Monge et al., ). The recent discovery of neoplastic tumours in members of Australopithecus and early Homo (Odes et al., ; Randolph‐Quinney et al., ) dated to 1.98 and c . 1.7 million years ago, respectively, provides additional insight into the antiquity of human cancers.…”

“…Chronological incidence of prehistoric oncogenic tumours and important milestones concerning cancer aetiology and treatment (Binder et al., ; Bona et al., ; Monge et al., ; Odes et al., ; Phelan et al., ; Randolph‐Quinney et al., ) (‘Rom.’ and ‘Med.’ referes to Roman and Medieval Periods, respectively).…”

Introductory Chapter: Having a Brain is Not Necessary to Get Cancer… but Indispensable to Fight It

“…Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa, dated to 1.98 million years ago [5] were discovered. Both the abovementioned bone tumors often occur in young people and are not correlated with factors related to the modern lifestyle.…”

An osseous lesion in the maxillary sinus—Tumour or tumour‐like?

“…The earliest diagnosed findings of neoplasms date back 1.9‐1.7 million years to hominins from Malapa and Swartkrans, South Africa. (Odes et al, ; Randolph‐Quinney et al, ). Furthermore, early findings are documented in a Homo naledi individual from the Dinaledi Cave site in South Africa (Odes et al, ) and a Homo neanderthalensis individual from the Guattari Cave site in Italy (Colella, Cappabianca, Gerardi, & Mallegni, ).…”