The UK is expanding the Transform prostate cancer screening trial to invite tens of thousands more Black men aged 45–74 and will invest £18 million to increase participation. The trial will test whether combining PSA with genetic checks and faster MRIs improves screening accuracy. The UK National Screening Committee still recommends routine PSA screening only for a small group of high-risk men because of harms from overdiagnosis and treatment. Charities welcomed the expansion as a step toward fairer, more targeted screening.
UK Expands Transform Prostate Cancer Trial to Invite Tens of Thousands More Black Men
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Tens of thousands more Black men aged 45–74 in the UK will be invited to take part in the Transform prostate cancer screening trial after the government announced an expansion to boost recruitment from communities at higher risk.
Charities and campaigners welcomed the move as "a truly historic moment". Ministers backed a recent recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) that routine population-wide PSA screening should not be offered to most men because the harms can outweigh the benefits for the majority.
Why the expansion matters
The government says it will invest £18 million in the Transform trials to ensure more Black men are offered participation. Black men face about twice the lifetime risk of prostate cancer compared with the general male population: overall about 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, rising to roughly 1 in 4 for Black men. The UK records about 64,000 prostate cancer diagnoses and about 12,000 deaths each year.
What the trial will test
Transform is assessing whether adding tests alongside the PSA blood test — such as genetic checks and faster access to MRI scans — can improve screening accuracy, better identify aggressive cancers and reduce unnecessary treatments.
All Black men aged 45–74 who have not had a recent PSA test will be offered the opportunity to join the study. Officials say the expanded trial will help build a more effective, evidence-based screening approach for the future.
PSA test explained
PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing can detect cancers earlier, but screening apparently healthy men also carries risks. Overdiagnosis can lead to treatments that cause permanent side effects, including urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Many prostate tumours grow so slowly that they may never become life-threatening, which is why routine screening is not currently recommended for most men.
Men concerned about prostate cancer or experiencing symptoms such as difficulty urinating are advised to speak with their GP about whether a PSA test or further assessment might be appropriate.
"This is a major step forward in how we tackle prostate cancer - focusing on those most at risk, improving the treatments available, and backing the research we need to close the evidence gaps and save lives," said Health Secretary James Murray.
The trial began inviting participants earlier this year. Prostate Cancer UK said it was "delighted" by the government's decision and that the expansion will help the charity reach more Black men with clear, trusted information.
The UK NSC continues to advise that routine PSA screening is appropriate only for a relatively small group of high-risk men — for example, those with a dangerous genetic variant and a family history of the disease — rather than the general male population.
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