A new large-scale study has identified many blood proteins linked to prostate cancer risk, including both common markers across populations and ones unique to specific ethnic groups.
The findings could help explain why prostate cancer affects men differently depending on their background—and lead to more targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was led by Dr. Lang Wu, Associate Director of Population Science at the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center.
Dr. Wu emphasized the importance of including diverse populations to better understand why some groups, such as African American men, are at higher risk for developing and dying from prostate cancer. Louisiana, where many people of African ancestry live, played a key role in this research.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. While genetics, lifestyle, and environment all play a role in cancer risk, this study focused on blood proteins—tiny molecules in the blood that may be involved in cancer development.
The research team analyzed thousands of proteins in the blood of men from different ethnic groups, including African, European, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino populations.
Using genetic data from more than 150,000 men with prostate cancer and nearly 790,000 men without it, they built models to predict protein levels based on a person’s genetic makeup. They then looked for links between those protein levels and prostate cancer risk.
In total, they identified 3 proteins linked to prostate cancer in African populations, 4 in Hispanic/Latino populations, 15 in Asian populations, and 73 in European populations. They also found 83 proteins associated with prostate cancer across all groups. Many of these proteins had never been linked to prostate cancer before.
“This study shows how population-specific biology shapes prostate cancer risk,” Dr. Wu said. “By including different major populations, we’re taking a big step toward understanding why some men, including many right here in Louisiana, face higher risk of developing this common malignancy.”
Dr. Hua Zhong, a postdoctoral fellow and one of the study’s first authors, explained that the study’s design—using advanced genetic analysis and data science—was both powerful and cost-effective.
Co-first author Dr. Jingjing Zhu, who leads the Bioinformatics Core at LSU, added that these findings will help identify individuals at higher risk and pave the way for new ways to detect and treat prostate cancer.
In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of studying diverse populations when researching diseases like prostate cancer. By identifying blood proteins that are linked to cancer risk, scientists can better understand the biology behind the disease and work toward more personalized, effective prevention and treatment options.
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