Developing a new method for the identification of cancer in archaeological populations

This $289,935 federal Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences program (CFDA 47.075) supports the development of a new methodology to identify cancer in archaeological human populations. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is leading this 2-year project, which will test the applicability of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) to detect biochemical signatures of bone lesions caused by cancer metastasis. The research will analyze 100 individuals with known cancer-related deaths and 50 individuals without cancer, leveraging documented skeletal collections. Micro-CT imaging will complement the FTIR-ATR analysis in the cancer cohort. An FTIR-ATR protocol and dataset will be developed and made publicly available to enable comparative paleopathological studies. The project also includes a subaward to the University of Coimbra in Portugal to contribute expertise. The research aims to improve understanding of cancer prevalence and evolution, as well as potentially inform diagnosis in living patients.

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world, and bone metastasis significantly contributes to its high morbidity and mortality. This project develops new methodological approaches to identify cancer and to distinguish IT from other diseases in archaeological human populations. This project improves the understanding of cancer prevalence in the past, informing the etiology, epidemiology, and evolution of this disease. This study builds on the long-standing BIO-anthropological tradition of paleopathological studies that uncover the prevalence and evolutionary history of diseases. By developing and refining a technique for identifying bone cancers in documented skeletal remains the project contributes new methods for cancer diagnosis in living patients. The information resulting from this study is fundamental to better comprehension of cancer treatment effectiveness today. The project provides research and training opportunities to diverse students and communities. This study tests the applicability of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (ftir-ATR) to accurately identify the biochemical signatures of bone lesions caused by metastasis. The method is tested in 100 individuals whose known cause of death is cancer and 50 individuals without cancer. The individuals analyzed in this study stem from documented skeletal collections. Ftir analysis is complemented with high resolution micro-CT images in the cancer cohort. An ftir-ATR protocol is developed, and a web-based dataset is made available to inform comparative studies. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.