UK Expands Landmark Prostate Cancer Screening Trial to Black Men

Black men across the UK will, for the first time, be invited to take part in a major prostate cancer screening trial under a landmark government-backed initiative aimed at reducing racial inequalities in cancer outcomes.

Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray announced the expansion of the TRANSFORM prostate cancer screening trial to include all eligible Black men.

The move follows years of campaigning by health advocates and community organisations highlighting the higher risks faced by Black men, who are significantly more likely to develop prostate cancer.

The TRANSFORM study, funded by Prostate Cancer UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is exploring the most effective ways to detect prostate cancer earlier while avoiding unnecessary treatment.

Under the plans, Black men aged 45 to 74 will be invited to participate in the next phase of the trial. From 2027, higher-risk men with the BRCA2 gene variant and relevant family history will also receive regular PSA blood tests.