The promise of proteomics for cancer prevention

Tell us about your research and what it could mean for the field

We analysed 6,412 proteins in blood samples from 2,476 male participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. By comparing the protein profiles of individuals who developed prostate cancer with those who did not, we identified 42 proteins linked to prostate cancer risk. Notably, many of these proteins are associated with aggressive subtypes of prostate cancer and have not been previously reported.

Some of these proteins may serve as early indicators for prostate cancer diagnosis. Additionally, some proteins, that showed changes long before diagnosis and had supporting genetic evidence, could enhance our understanding of the causality of prostate cancer.

Do you think proteomic approaches to risk and cancer prevention in general are close to being clinically widespread?

Proteomic approaches hold significant promise for cancer prevention by greatly expanding the discovery of biomarkers. Most current drugs act by targeting proteins, and our comprehensive analysis of proteins and prostate cancer represents an important initial step.

However, widespread clinical implementation may still be some way off. More validation studies are required at this early stage, and comprehensive clinical trials and cost-effectiveness analyses are essential to fully understand the real-world impact of these approaches.

What brought you into studying the area of cancer prevention and risk?

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in men, but its mechanisms remain largely unknown.

My PhD research focused on cardiovascular diseases, and observing the success in reducing cardiovascular diseases worldwide through the identification of modifiable risk factors and effective interventions inspired me. This experience ignited my passion for research that can unravel the complexities of prostate cancer and contribute to its prevention.

What was the biggest challenge your group faced during the research?

The biggest challenge we encountered was the lack of external validation and the heterogeneity among different proteomic platforms. This limitation restricted our ability to test the generalisability of our findings, which is crucial in the early stages of proteomic research.

What are the next steps to lower risk and prevent prostate cancer?

Future research should focus on identifying intervenable risk factors, such as specific proteins, to prevent prostate cancer development.

While two hormone-related proteins (IGF-I and MSMB) have been known for years, they are not currently used as intervention targets for various reasons (such as the lack of targeting drugs and inconclusive evidence of causality), highlighting the challenges ahead.

Additionally, we need to explore biomarkers that can supplement or surpass the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in stratifying high-risk populations. The widespread use of PSA, while reducing metastatic diagnoses, often results in overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Identifying more precise biomarkers could improve early detection and targeted prevention strategies.

How did you find the prevention research conference? Were there any new insights sparked?

It was a great pleasure to attend the conference and share our work with the cancer research community in Boston. Engaging with researchers from diverse backgrounds, including oncologists, statisticians, and epidemiologists, provided us with valuable insights.

A particularly enlightening discussion with a clinician from Case Western Reserve University offered us ideas about the potential biological roles of one of the proteins we identified. This exchange of knowledge and ideas was immensely beneficial for our ongoing research.

Do you have any advice for those who are at early stages of their research career and also passionate about contributing to cancer prevention?

As someone who started my early career 10 months ago after completing my PhD, I also consider myself new to cancer prevention research. My advice? Maintain open communication with professionals from diverse backgrounds to understand the practical gaps in cancer prevention.

Additionally, continuously learning and staying updated with cutting-edge techniques, such as proteomics, can help identify niches to bridge these gaps.

Lastly, never underestimate the power of a good cup of tea with colleagues – brainstorming over tea can lead to some of the best ideas!