Oxford researchers identify blood proteins linked to aggressive prostate cancer

OPA WIRE, Oct 21 (OPA) — Researchers analyzed blood samples from 2,555 participants, tracking them for approximately 16 years to isolate specific protein markers. The study, which examined more than 6,000 proteins, identified 12 distinct markers linked to prostate cancer, seven of which are specifically associated with the disease's most aggressive forms. Among the identified proteins are ANKRD1, which is linked to cancer metastasis, and GZMK, a protein produced by immune cells that may indicate the body’s early attempts to suppress abnormal cell growth.

Professor Karl Smith-Byrne, the study’s senior author, stated that these findings could help identify biological pathways for preventing aggressive prostate cancer. Dr. Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, noted that understanding the drivers of tumor aggressiveness is necessary to improve patient outcomes. Currently, Britain records approximately 63,000 new prostate cancer diagnoses and 12,000 deaths annually, with cases among men under 50 quadrupling over the last two decades.

Despite the findings, experts cautioned that the research is in its preliminary stages. Professor Prabhakar Rajan of Queen Mary University of London noted that some associations may have occurred by chance and highlighted missing data regarding the specific aggressiveness of certain cancers. The researchers emphasized that the presence of these proteins does not confirm an existing cancer diagnosis, but rather provides insight into the biological factors that increase individual risk.

Future efforts will focus on validating these markers to develop reliable screening tools. Dr. Zhe Huang, the study’s first author and a postdoctoral epidemiologist at Oxford Population Health, stated the team aims to use these markers to refine risk assessment protocols. While there is no national screening program currently in place, the identification of these proteins represents a shift toward understanding the molecular origins of the disease before symptoms emerge.