Research may have found a new biomarker for prostate cancer detection

New research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) may reveal certain biomarkers to assist in early detection of prostate cancer in men who show no disease symptoms.

University of Bristol researchers analyzed insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) in men having prostate cancer.

In all, the study compared 2,686 men with prostate cancer and 2,766 men who did not have cancer. They found specific growth factors, IGF-II, and specific proteins, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3, were all shown to cause an increased risk for prostate cancer. However, no relation was discovered between IGF-1, the most well-known factor, and an increase in prostate cancer.

The specific growth factors and proteins are responsible for regulation and growth of organs and tissues, especially during the earliest years of a man’s life.

Dr. Mari-Anne Rowlands explains these findings to be significant as a potential biomarker to detect prostate cancer early, but additional research is required to understand which biomarkers are most important for various types of cancer.

Experts explain their priorities to be to identify men having a higher prostate cancer risk, and believe this study may help determine which men should be screened early.