Game-changing discovery in oncology: An immune shield that prevents prostate cancer 7 years earlier has been detected

A groundbreaking research study has been published in the medical world against prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer in men. Oxford University scientists found that special immune proteins in the blood prevent tumor formation 7 years before diagnosis. The discovery paves the way for preventive vaccines and treatments that will stop the disease before it occurs.

This comprehensive study, conducted on blood samples and genetic data of tens of thousands of men, completely refuted the centuries-old medical assumption that prostate cancer is "insensitive to the immune system."

The research team mapped 368 different immune and inflammation proteins by examining blood samples taken an average of 10 years before the cancer was diagnosed. The analyzes documented the protective power of the "Interleukin-15" (IL-15) protein, which feeds the body's cancer-fighting "natural killer" (NK) and "killer T" cells.

It was found that in men with high levels of IL-15 protein in their blood, the risk of developing prostate cancer was 14 percent lower and the risk of developing advanced-stage aggressive prostate cancer was 26 percent lower after 7 years. It has also been confirmed that other immune-supporting proteins such as FLT3LG, BCL2L11 and PGF prevent cancer formation years before.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Mahboubeh Parsaeian stated that, to date, the immune system has always been studied after the tumor has formed, so early biological mechanisms have been overlooked. "We detected the strongest immune signals more than 7 years before diagnosis. This proves that our immune system clears abnormal cells before they turn into tumors," Parsaeian said.

Experts state that thanks to existing medical molecules that activate these protein pathways, men can be protected while they are still healthy and prostate cancer vaccines or preventive drug protocols can be developed.

Another critical finding revealed in the research was on the "PARP1" protein, which is involved in DNA repair. It was found that the risk of prostate cancer increased in men who were genetically predisposed to high PARP1 levels.

While PARP inhibitor drugs such as olaparib are currently used only in advanced-stage cancer patients, the new discovery showed that these drugs can also be used for preventive purposes before cancer occurs. Scientists aim to initiate clinical prevention trials that will strengthen the immune shield within the scope of the Prostate Cancer Etiology and Prevention (PCAP) program.