‘Pivotal’ new prostate screening trial could nearly HALVE deaths from the disease, scientists hope

A “PIVOTAL” prostate cancer screening trial could nearly halve deaths from the disease, scientists hope.

Prostate Cancer UK is starting a government-funded experiment to find the best way to check blokes for tumours.

PABlood tests, MRI scans and genetic screening could be combined to test for prostate cancer[/caption]

It is the most common type of cancer in men, with 52,000 cases and 12,000 deaths per year in the UK.

More than 300,000 men will be involved in trials of blood tests, MRI scans and genetic screening to see how best to detect cancer cells early.

It is hoped finding the ideal combination could slash death rates by 40 per cent.

The study will be the biggest of its kind for 20 years, lasting more than a decade and costing £42million, with £16m from the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Dr Matthew Hobbs, research director at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We expect to double the number of men that could be saved by screening.

“We know that earlier diagnosis saves lives so we must prove that there are better ways to find aggressive prostate cancer that will save even more lives while causing less harm.

“This could save thousands of men’s lives every year in the UK alone and also change practice globally – so we’re into tens of thousands of men saved each year. 

“This is a pivotal moment in the history of prostate cancer research.”

Top researchers will join from Imperial College London, the Institute of Cancer Research, Queen Mary University and University College London.

The huge trial will create the largest ever bank of prostate cancer samples, imaging and data to feed into future technology.

Men with suspected prostate cancer are currently given prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests but these are not yet accurate enough for general NHS screening.

Health Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “Screening for the most common cancer in men is complex but we’re backing groundbreaking trials like this to improve diagnostic processes and save thousands more lives.”