• Genetic clues link lipoprotein A to pros

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Thu Jan 27 21:30:50 2022
    Genetic clues link lipoprotein A to prostate cancer risk
    UK Biobank and other data identifies genetic variants linked to high lipoprotein A levels and high prostate cancer risk

    Date:
    January 27, 2022
    Source:
    PLOS
    Summary:
    A new analysis has uncovered a potential link between higher
    prostate cancer risk and genetic variants associated with higher
    bloodstream levels of the cholesterol-transporting molecule
    lipoprotein A.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    A new analysis has uncovered a potential link between higher prostate
    cancer risk and genetic variants associated with higher bloodstream levels
    of the cholesterol-transporting molecule lipoprotein A. Anna Ioannidou
    of Imperial College London, U.K., and colleagues present these findings
    in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine.


    ==========================================================================
    Some factors associated with higher risk of prostate cancer cannot be
    modified, such as older age and being of African descent. Meanwhile, other
    risk factors for the aggressive form of the disease, such as smoking and obesity, can potentially be modified. Previous research suggests that
    higher blood levels of lipids might also be associated with increased
    risk. If so, lipid-lowering drugs could theoretically reduce prostate
    cancer risk. However, the existing evidence for associations between
    blood lipids and prostate cancer has been inconclusive.

    To better understand these possible associations, Ioannidou and colleagues analyzed links between prostate cancer risk and several blood lipids:
    namely, lipoprotein A, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins A and B. They
    drew on two large research initiatives, U.K. Biobank and the PRACTICAL consortium, in order to analyze genomic and prostate cancer-risk data
    for hundreds of thousands of individuals.

    The study employed a method known as Mendelian randomization, which
    harnesses the inherent randomness of the genetic process of meiosis to
    boost the validity of an analysis. So, instead of considering direct measurements of lipids in the bloodstream, the researchers evaluated
    variations in individuals' DNA sequences that are associated with
    different blood levels of the lipids. Then, they analyzed if these
    genetic variants were statistically linked to prostate cancer risk.

    The analysis showed that genetic variants that predict higher blood levels
    of lipoprotein A were associated with a higher overall risk of prostate
    cancer, and also a higher risk of advanced or early-age-onset prostate
    cancer. The researchers did not find any significant associations for
    any of the other blood lipids.

    These findings suggest the possibility that lipoprotein A-lowering
    drugs could be developed or repurposed to lower risk of prostate
    cancer for some individuals. More research will be needed to confirm
    the associations observed in this study and to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms.

    The authors add, "Our study suggests that individuals with higher
    lipoprotein A blood levels, which is a protein that transports cholesterol
    in the blood, may have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
    for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Anna Ioannidou, Eleanor L. Watts, Aurora Perez-Cornago, Elizabeth A.

    Platz, Ian G. Mills, Timothy J. Key, Ruth C. Travis, Konstantinos K.

    Tsilidis, Verena Zuber. The relationship between lipoprotein A and
    other lipids with prostate cancer risk: A multivariable Mendelian
    randomisation study. PLOS Medicine, 2022; 19 (1): e1003859 DOI:
    10.1371/ journal.pmed.1003859 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220127141613.htm

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