Research into the screening, diagnosis and causes of prostate cancer
Researchers around the world are looking at better ways to diagnose prostate cancer.
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for prostate cancer in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you might be able to take part in.
Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the patients for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. We have included this ongoing research. This is to give examples of the type of research being carried out in prostate cancer.
Click on the ‘recruiting’, ‘closed’ and ‘results’ tabs to see all the trials.
Research into the causes of prostate cancer
Researchers want to find out which factors increase your risk of prostate cancer. They are looking at genes and lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity.
Genes and prostate cancer
Researchers are looking at 
changes in prostate cancer cells. This helps doctors understand how prostate cancer develops and who might be at risk.
We know that your risk of prostate cancer is higher if you have a close relative who has had prostate cancer. A close relative is a brother or father. This is because some can increase your risk of prostate cancer.
Researchers want to find out:
- how a family history of prostate cancer can increase your risk of prostate cancer
- about the different gene changes, and how common they are
- if gene changes in your prostate cancer cells can help doctors predict how your cancer might grow and spread
- how testing for gene changes can help prostate cancer
screening and treatment decisions - if some treatments work better or worse depending on the gene changes
Diet and physical activity
Researchers are looking at ways to prevent and slow the growth of prostate cancer. They continue to look into diet and physical activity and prostate cancer prevention.
Research has found that eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk of cancer. This is partly from the effect of the diet itself, but mostly by helping you keep a healthy weight.
Being physically active also lowers cancer risk by helping you to keep a healthy weight. Physical activity might also lower your cancer risk in other ways. Researchers want to know why physical activity reduces the risk of cancer.
Research into screening for prostate cancer
Screening means testing people for early stages of a cancer. Or for early changes that could develop into cancer if left untreated.
There is no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK. This is because, at the moment, there isn’t a reliable test that can pick up prostate cancer that needs treatment at an early stage.
Research is ongoing to improve screening for prostate cancer. And to find ways to improve the . Researchers are looking at:
- screening men at increased risk to see how certain gene changes affect their risk
- using a saliva test to look for gene changes to tell who has an increased risk of prostate cancer
- using new types of MRI scan to screen for early prostate cancers
- new blood and saliva tests
Research into the diagnosis of prostate cancer
Researchers are looking into new tests to help diagnose prostate cancer. Tests that doctors are looking at include new types of MRI scans and looking for .
Scans
You usually have a type of called multiparametric MRI (mpMRI). This identifies areas in your prostate that might be cancer. Doctors might then use a targeted to take samples of tissue from the areas.
Researchers are looking at:
- different types of MRI scans
ultrasound scans using a contrast dye PET-CT scans
Biomarkers
Researchers are looking for biomarkers that might play a role in prostate cancer. Biomarkers are substances that are in body fluids such as blood or urine. They can be a sign of an illness.
Researchers are using blood, urine, poo and breath samples to look for biomarkers. This might help doctors diagnose prostate cancer in the future.
Research into treatment for prostate cancer
Researchers are looking into new treatments for early and advanced prostate cancer.
