Transforming prostate cancer diagnosis

Transforming prostate cancer diagnosis

Prostate cancer used to be diagnosed using a random biopsy where the chances of missing a significant cancer were high - around 50%. There weren't any scans that could accurately image the prostate to identify areas that could be cancer and guide biopsy needles to the right places. We funded researchers at University College London to test a new imaging technique on the prostate, called multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mpMRI).

This was successful and the early data they generated convinced the government to fund PROMIS, an ambitious clinical trial to test the technique in a large number of men. The results transformed the way prostate cancer was diagnosed in the UK.

Allan was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016. When he was referred, he was offered the chance to be part of the PROMIS trial, which helped to show that mpMRI could be used for diagnosis. Allan chose to take part in the trial and he thinks it could have saved his life, because they told him it was only thanks to the mpMRI scan that they found the cancer at all. Thankfully Allan got the treatment he needed and is now five years all-clear of cancer.

From research idea to access for all

Idea

We held a meeting in 2008 bringing together top prostate cancer researchers in the UK to discuss how to improve prostate cancer diagnosis, one of the key areas of our strategy.

Lab research

We funded researchers based at University College London to test a new form of imaging to help diagnose prostate cancer - multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mpMRI). 

Clinical trials

Data generated from our funding convinced the government to fund a large clinical trial, PROMIS, which tested mpMRI in hundreds of men. The results of PROMIS were presented in 2016 and published in 2017, showing that mpMRI enabled researchers to more accurately target biopsies and reduce the numbers of men having unnecessary biopsies and unnecessary treatment for prostate cancers that wouldn't cause them harm. 

Approved for use

We drove this forward, working with the Royal College of Radiologists, practising radiologists, radiographers, urologists, members of the PROMIS trial team and Clinical Cancer Leads at two prominent Clinical Commissioning Groups to get the new technique rolled out to men across the UK as soon and as safely as possible.

Access for all

Since 2017 we've worked extremely hard with decision makers to ensure the majority of men have access to mpMRI.