Oxford Study Identifies 12 Proteins Linked To Prostate Cancer 15 Years Before Diagnosis
- Scientists have identified 12 blood proteins linked to prostate cancer diagnosed more than 15 years before diagnosis, according to new research published in European Urology.
- Researchers examined blood samples from 982 men who later developed prostate cancer alongside a randomly selected sample of 1,573 men taking part in the European Prospective Investigation into...
- Among those markers is GZMK, a protein produced by immune cells that recognize and destroy abnormal cells.
Scientists have identified 12 blood proteins linked to prostate cancer diagnosed more than 15 years before diagnosis, according to new research published in European Urology. Led by Oxford Population Health and partly funded by Cancer Research UK, the study analyzed blood samples from men to uncover biological clues to the disease over a decade before diagnosis, The Telegraph reported.
Blood Protein Discovery More Than a Decade Before Diagnosis
Researchers examined blood samples from 982 men who later developed prostate cancer alongside a randomly selected sample of 1,573 men taking part in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. By measuring more than 6,000 proteins in the blood over a follow-up period of around 16 years, the team isolated 12 specific proteins associated with prostate cancer diagnosed more than 15 years later, according to The Pharmacist.
Among those markers is GZMK, a protein produced by immune cells that recognize and destroy abnormal cells. The finding suggests that the body’s immune system may play a role in keeping prostate cancer in check long before any clinical signs emerge, as reported by The Independent. The work also tracked proteins produced by genes already known to be linked to prostate cancer, such as ERBB3, KRAS, and NRAS.
Identifying Seven Markers Linked to Aggressive Disease
The study went beyond general risk to isolate seven proteins specifically associated with aggressive forms of prostate cancer. One of those proteins, ANKRD1, appeared consistently in connection with serious forms of the disease, including tumors that had spread or proved fatal, according to The Pharmacist. Investigators noted that while these protein associations appeared years before diagnosis, the findings do not indicate that cancer was already present when the blood samples were originally collected.
Prostate cancer is not one disease. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and may never cause harm, while others are aggressive and can be life-threatening.
Dr Zhe Huang, Oxford Population Health
Dr. Zhe Huang, a postdoctoral epidemiologist at Oxford Population Health and first author of the study, explained that measuring thousands of proteins collected years prior helps researchers understand how men who develop aggressive prostate cancer differ from those who do not. The findings also advanced knowledge regarding how cancer cells interact with surrounding tissue and how new blood vessels form, according to Daily Mirror.
Current Limitations and Next Steps for Clinical Risk Assessment
Study authors emphasized that the identified proteins are not yet ready for clinical testing, noting that most observed associations are modest. Professor Karl Smith-Byrne, a senior author of the study, stated that identifying proteins linked to known driver genes gives new insights into the earliest stages of the disease and could eventually help establish biological pathways to prevent aggressive tumors, as reported by The Pharmacist.
Further investigation is currently underway through the Prostate Cancer Aetiology and Prevention Programme, supported by Cancer Research UK. While researchers hope the biomarkers will ultimately improve how medical professionals assess risk, independent experts caution that additional work remains necessary before any protein-based blood test can reliably identify patients for routine clinical use.