UK Expands Prostate Cancer Trial to Black Men 45-74 With £18 Million Backing
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 2
UK Expands Prostate Cancer Trial to Black Men 45-74 With £18 Million Backing
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 2
Tens of thousands more black men aged 45-74 will be invited for prostate cancer checks under the UK’s TRANSFORM trial, after the government committed £18 million to expand recruitment.
The study is testing whether PSA blood tests paired with MRI scans and genetic spit tests can detect disease more accurately in a group whose lifetime risk is one in four.
The expansion comes even as the UK National Screening Committee recently said routine PSA screening should not be offered to most men because harms from overdiagnosis and treatment can outweigh benefits.
Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK, with 64,000 diagnoses and 12,000 deaths a year, and ministers say the trial could shape a more effective future screening system.
Black men are at double the risk, so why did the UK's screening committee advise against testing them?
Can genetic 'spit tests' and AI-powered scans finally solve the prostate cancer screening puzzle?
UK Invests £20 Million in TRANSFORM Trial to Tackle Prostate Cancer Disparities Among Black Men and High-Risk Groups
Overview
On June 2, 2026, the UK government announced a major £20 million investment to advance prostate cancer research and improve patient outcomes, with a special focus on men at highest risk. This funding aims to develop better screening strategies and expand treatment options, directly addressing long-standing health inequalities. A key part of this effort is the TRANSFORM trial, which began inviting participants earlier in 2026. The trial is testing innovative screening methods, such as rapid MRI scans and genetic spit tests, to find the most effective ways to detect prostate cancer early and ensure high-risk men receive the best possible care.