Two latest studies conducted by scientists from the Population Health Center at the University of Oxford in the UK have found that some proteins in the blood are expected to reveal cancer risk seven years in advance. The research team believes that some of these proteins can not only detect certain cancers earlier than existing methods, but also contribute to early treatment or complete prevention of these cancers. The relevant paper was published in the journal Nature Communications on the 15th. In the latest research, scientists have successfully identified 618 proteins associated with 19 different types of cancer. Of particular note, they found 107 proteins associated with cancer risk in a group of people who collected blood seven years before cancer diagnosis. In the first study, the research team analyzed blood samples collected from over 44000 people by the UK's Biobank, of which 4900 were later diagnosed with cancer. Using advanced proteomics techniques, the research team analyzed in detail 1463 proteins in each person's blood sample and compared the protein differences between diagnosed and undiagnosed cancer patients, identifying proteins associated with cancer risk. In the second study, the research team conducted in-depth analysis of genetic data from over 300000 cancer cases to further explore which blood proteins are involved in cancer development and may become potential targets for new therapies. They eventually discovered 40 proteins in the blood. These proteins affect a person's risk of developing 9 different types of cancer. Although altering these proteins may increase or decrease the risk of cancer, in some cases, such interventions may bring unexpected side effects. The research team emphasizes the need for further research to clarify the exact role of these proteins in cancer development, such as which proteins can provide the most reliable cancer risk prediction results. In addition, they also need to explore clinically feasible detection methods and search for drugs that may target these proteins. (Lai Xin She)