Articles

Implications of EU Council Recommendations on Prostate Cancer Screening

BJMO - 2024, issue 3, may 2024

H. Van Poppel MD, PhD, M.J. Roobol PhD, L.D. Venderbos PhD, P. Basu MD, PhD, A. Chandran MD, PhD, R. van den Bergh MD, PhD, V. Vasilyeva , E. Briers PhD, PRAISE-U Consortium

SUMMARY

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant health challenge for men globally and is the number two cancer-related killer of men in Northern and Western Europe. Over the years, researchers have conducted several randomised trials in order to assess the impact of screening for PCa on disease-specific mortality. Historical screening trials mainly relied on relatively simple protocols that used fixed prostate-specific antigen (PSA) thresholds and/or digital rectal examination for the indication to perform a biopsy. Current PCa screening practices across European Union (EU) member states vary in approaches and implementations. However, opportunistic PCa screening, which is associated with no significant decrease in mortality but a risk of overdiagnosis, is still prevalent. In 2022, the EU Council published updated recommendations, which incorporated PCa screening and encouraged evidence-based and person-centred cancer screening programmes. In alignment with these guidelines, the PRAISE-U project is committed to rationalising PCa screening in Europe.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2024;18(3):82–8)

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