The UK National Screening Committee has opened a 12-week public consultation on whether and how prostate cancer screening should be offered in the UK, following a major review of updated evidence and new modelling.
The consultation covers the committee’s 2025 evidence review, a modelling study commissioned from the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research, and a draft updated recommendation on screening.
Prostate Screening: Evidence And Modelling Reviewed
The UK National Screening Committee assesses screening proposals against strict criteria and only recommends programmes where robust peer reviewed evidence shows that benefits outweigh harms across the whole screening pathway, from testing through to treatment.
For its latest review, the committee asked the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research to model the potential impact of different screening strategies. These included population wide screening and targeted approaches for men considered at higher risk, including Black men, men with a family history of prostate cancer and men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants.
The model draws on published evidence, national datasets, expert and patient input, and has been validated against two large, randomised trials, the Cluster Randomised Trial of PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer and the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer.
It assumes prostate specific antigen testing as the initial screening step, followed by MRI scanning and biopsy where PSA levels are raised. Both one off and repeat screening scenarios were assessed.
Draft Recommendation Explained
The draft recommendation proposes a targeted national screening programme for men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, offering PSA based screening every two years from age 45 to 61.
It does not recommend population screening, nor targeted screening for Black men or for men with a family history, citing continuing uncertainty over the balance of benefit and harm.
The committee also proposes close collaboration with the Transform screening research trial to answer outstanding questions, particularly around screening effectiveness in higher risk groups and the development of tests more accurate than PSA alone.
How To Take Part
The consultation is open until 11.59pm GMT on Friday 20 February 2026. Individuals and organisations can access the modelling study; evidence review and supporting documents via the UK National Screening Committee website and submit comments online.
Responses will be reviewed by the committee secretariat and the Sheffield research team. If no further analysis is required, final recommendations are expected to be agreed at the committee’s meeting on 26 March 2026.
Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around 55,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths each year and is currently the most common cancer without a national screening programme.
Reference
Mike Harris. UK NSC opens consultation on draft prostate cancer screening recommendation. UK National Screening Committee. Published: 28 November 2025. Available at: https://nationalscreening.blog.gov.uk/2025/11/28/uk-nsc-opens-consultation-on-draft-prostate-cancer-screening-recommendation/.
