Trending Now - New Study Questions PSA Test's Life-saving Benefits for Prostate Cancer

WHO:

Nature - Cochrane, an influential group known for medical reviews.

Nature - Philipp Dahm, a urologist at the University of Minnesota and corresponding author of the review.

The Guardian - Dr. Juan Franco at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, the first author of the review.

The Guardian - David James at Prostate Cancer Research.

The Guardian - Dr. Ian Walker at Cancer Research UK.

The Guardian - Dr. Matthew Hobbs at Prostate Cancer UK.

WHAT:

Nature - A Cochrane review suggests that PSA testing “likely reduces the risk of dying” from prostate cancer.

Nature - The review analyzed data from nearly 800,000 people.

The Guardian - Screening with the PSA test reduced prostate cancer deaths by two for every 1,000 men screened.

The Guardian - It takes screening 500 men to prevent one death from prostate cancer.

The Guardian - The European randomized study of screening for prostate cancer (ERSPC) followed men for 23 years after screening.

The Guardian - The review indicates that many men could face unnecessary treatment and medical complications.

WHERE:

Nature - The review is relevant to medical policy bodies around the world.

The Guardian - Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, with over 64,000 cases diagnosed annually in the UK.

WHEN:

Nature - The Cochrane reviews were published in 2006 and 2013, with the latest review published recently.

The Guardian - The UK National Screening Committee advised against prostate cancer screening for most men last year.

WHY:

Nature - The findings were driven by data from two new trials encompassing more than 250,000 people and additional years of data from four older trials.

The Guardian - The PSA test is considered unreliable, leading to no formal prostate cancer screening programs in the UK and many other countries.

HOW:

Nature - The PSA test detects prostate cancer by measuring the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood.

The Guardian - The review examined recent advances in screening, including testing for more prostate-related proteins and using MRI scans to image the gland.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 17:29 UTC)

A recent Cochrane review suggests that PSA testing likely reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer, analyzing data from nearly 800,000 individuals. The findings indicate that screening with the PSA test could prevent one death for every 500 men screened, although many men may still face unnecessary treatments and complications. This review is particularly relevant to medical policy bodies worldwide, as prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers in men, with over 64,000 cases diagnosed annually in the UK.