Molecular paleopathology and paleo-oncology-State of the art, potentials, limitations and perspectives

This paper reviews the current knowledge on molecular paleopathology with respect to oncological information. This covers both the information on the protein level (proteome) as well as the gene level (genome) and includes data on carcinogenic factors - such as molecular evidence for oncogenic viral infections. Currently, relatively little data is available for neoplastic disease in paleopathology. Likewise, few studies describe the biochemical or immunohistochemical analysis of tumors - a tool to potentially classify the tumor type and the underlying primary tumor in metastases. On the gene level, two studies described distinct molecular mutations in either a tumor-driving oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene, both being excellent examples for paleo-oncological studies. The paucity of historic tumor material - particularly when only osseous remains are available - represents the most hindering factor for molecular paleo-oncology. This can only be overcome in future by both the thorough investigation of mummified archaeological biomaterial and the improvement of analytical assays in order to trace even minute amounts of tumor material in osseous lesions.