Oxford scientists find blood proteins that could flag prostate cancer in men more than 15 years before diagnosis
Oxford University researchers identified 12 proteins in blood that could detect prostate cancer more than a decade early — seven linked to its most aggressive, lethal forms.
Tracking 2,555 men over roughly 16 years, researchers analysed upwards of 6,000 blood proteins. Twelve of those proteins were linked to tumours whose diagnosis would come more than 15 years later, while seven were connected to the most aggressive forms. One protein, ANKRD1, appeared specifically in cancers that spread or proved fatal. Lead author Dr Zhe Huang said: 'Prostate cancer is not one disease.'
Prostate cancer kills around 12,000 British men a year, one every 45 minutes.
Britain still has no national screening programme, only PSA tests on request for over-50s.
