Cambridge blood test could spark UK prostate cancer screening
Researchers at the University of Cambridge are developing a DNA methylation–based blood test that could not only detect prostate cancer but also indicate its aggressiveness and need for treatment, potentially underpinning a UK national screening programme. PSA tests currently used for screening are unreliable and UK advisers have urged targeted screening rather than broad population testing; a more accurate blood test could broaden screening, reduce unnecessary biopsies, and guide treatment decisions. The team plans UK clinical trials within 18–24 months and states the new test would complement, not replace, existing PSA testing. Prostate cancer is the UK’s most common cancer with about 12,000 deaths annually.
