Blood protein levels may flag risk of diabetes and death by cancer, shows study

Doctors think they have found a sign in a patient's blood that could alert them to their risk of dying from cancer.

The health records of more than 4,500 middle-aged people were analysed by researchers in Sweden and China. Those with the highest levels of prostasin were more likely to have diabetes than those with the lowest levels.

Some of the people in the study already had diabetes and the scientists looked at who went on to be diagnosed later. People with higher levels of prostasin were more likely to develop diabetes than people with lower levels.

According to the first author on the study, prostasin could be a new risk marker for diabetes and death from cancer in people with high blood sugar.

Prostasin plays a number of roles in the body, such as regulating blood pressure and blood volume, and suppressing the growth of tumours that are fueled by high blood sugar. While type 2 diabetes is known to increase the risk of certain types of cancer, the biological mechanisms are not clear.

The link between prostasin and diabetes was investigated and it was found that people with higher levels of prostasin were more likely to get cancer.

They say that people with the highest levels of prostasin were more likely to die from cancer.

People with high levels of prostasin and blood sugar were more likely to die from cancer. For every doubling in prostasin concentration, the risk of cancer death increased in people with high blood sugar. The authors say that attention should be paid to these people.

It is not clear if a high prostasin level is a sign of disease or just a biological marker. Prostasin levels rise in an attempt to suppress high blood sugar levels, but are not able to stop or reverse the damage caused.

A senior author of the study said that the relationship between diabetes and cancer is poorly understood.

We need to know if prostasin is a useful marker of increased disease risk or if it is related to diseases.

It could be possible to identify people with an increased risk of diabetes and cancer.

The findings from one city may not apply to other cities. The study couldn't distinguish between different types of diabetes because prostasin was measured from only one time point.

According to Jessica Brown of Diabetes UK, there is a connection between diabetes and some types of cancer.

A better understanding of the changes inside the body that may put people at risk from diabetes and cancer will help scientists find ways to protect people from these serious conditions.

If prostasin is playing a role in the development of type 2 diabetes and poorer cancer outcomes in people with high blood sugar levels, then further research is needed.