Fig. 1: Flowchart of study design, data analyses and main results.
From: Evaluation of circulating plasma proteins in breast cancer using Mendelian randomisation
A total of 2929 unique proteins (2949 assays) were measured using the Olink PEA Explore assay in plasma samples taken from 598 women. Protein levels were correlated with baseline clinical characteristics using linear regression. Genetic association analysis of protein levels was performed which led to the identification of 812 cis-pQTL for 737 proteins, which were used in Mendelian randomisation analysis of breast cancer in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) case-control meta-analysis of breast cancer risk, followed by replication in independent studies of breast cancer risk. To follow up on significant proteins, the genetic signals for protein levels and breast cancer risk were visualised and evaluated using Mirror plots and were also tested for causal relationships with established and emerging breast cancer risk factors, also using Mendelian randomisation.
