Overview

• The UCLA Health–led study published in JACC: Advances this month involved collaboration among five major US academic institutions including the University of Washington and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• Investigators measured baseline levels of hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP in 6,244 adults free of cardiovascular disease and cancer between 2000 and 2002
• Participants with even minor elevations in both biomarkers experienced a significantly higher overall cancer incidence over a median follow-up of 17.8 years
• Combined elevated hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP levels were most strongly associated with colorectal cancer risk, while higher NT-proBNP alone correlated with increased lung cancer incidence
• The findings highlight the potential for cardiac blood markers to inform integrated risk prediction and prevention strategies for both cardiovascular disease and cancer