Researchers found that among men with four of the five variants the risk of prostate cancer is increased percent to percent compared to men with none of the variants. A new blood test that looks at five genetic variants could one day predict the risk of developing prostate cancer a new study says. Currently age race and family history are the three risk factors associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. In thenew england journal of medicine. Dr. The effect of each variant is too small to be useful in predicting the risk for prostate cancer xu said.