Scientists identify blood proteins that may detect cancer seven years before diagnosis

Scientists at Oxford University have achieved a breakthrough in early cancer detection. Their research has identified proteins in the blood that may indicate the presence of cancer up to seven years before a formal diagnosis.

This discovery holds immense significance for prevention of the incurable disease.

Early detection could allow doctors to intervene before the cancer takes root, leading to better treatment outcomes and improved survival rates. 

Two separate research reports from Oxford Population Health, funded by Cancer Research UK, identified proteins that appear in the early stages of cancer.

Scientists analysed blood samples from over 44,000 individuals, 4,900 of whom later developed cancer.

In a separate study, they examined data from 300,000 cancer patients to identify proteins linked to the emergence of cancer that can be targeted for future treatments.

The first study involved comparing protein profiles of individuals who later developed cancer with those who remained healthy. This comparison was made to identify specific proteins linked to the disease.

After this initial research, the second study analysed genetic data from over 300,000 cancer cases. This analysis discovered 40 blood proteins associated with nine different types of cancer.

“This research brings us closer to being able to prevent cancer with targeted drugs – once thought impossible but now much more attainable,” said Dr Karl Smith-Byrne, seniour molecular epidemiologist who penned both studies.

Dr Joshua Atkins, senior genomic epidemiologist who co-authored the first study explained, “The genes we are born with, and the proteins made from them, are hugely influential in how cancer starts and grows. Thanks to the thousands of people who gave blood samples to UK BioBank, we are building a much more comprehensive picture of how genes influence cancer development over many years.

According to the experts, more research is required to ascertain what role these proteins play in cancer and which of these proteins are reliable for diagnosing the disease.