Statement on the introduction of prostate screening for high-risk men

Yorkshire Cancer Research welcomes the Government’s decision to follow the UK National Screening Committee’s recommendation to introduce prostate cancer screening for men with faulty BRCA2 genes and a relevant family history.

While a limited screening programme may be disappointing, the evidence is not yet strong enough to support a wider rollout.

Screening decisions must carefully weigh up the benefits of finding cancer early against the risk of causing harm such as unnecessary worry or treatment that may not be needed. 

The decision to offer screening to men with a BRCA2 genetic fault is an important step forward for men at highest risk of prostate cancer, however it also highlights that far more must be done to improve access to and uptake of genetic testing. 

Most people with a faulty BRCA gene are unaware. Wider and more equitable testing will be essential to ensure as many men as possible can benefit from this programme and do not miss out on potentially life‑saving screening.

The National Screening Committee’s recommendation also shows why more research is urgently needed before screening can be safely offered to more people.

Yorkshire Cancer Research’s IMProVE trial, referenced in the National Screening Committee’s final recommendation, will play a key role in this effort by exploring how combining PSA tests with MRI scans could improve detection while reducing harm, and how screening can be delivered without widening inequalities. 

IMProVE is designed to complement research trials like TRANSFORM, which this week received further funding from the Government, as well as helping ensure that any future screening programme is not only effective, but safe, equitable and deliverable in practice.

Crucially, IMProVE is exploring the perspectives of men most at risk of prostate cancer, including Black men and men from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, to understand their views on prostate cancer and any factors that might encourage or discourage them from taking part in screening. This is an essential step if future programmes are to reach those at highest risk and ensure no one is left behind.