A new study suggests that a novel test for detecting prostate cancer could be more effective than currently used screening methods. According to researchers in Sweden, the test—known as Stockholm3—is capable of detecting 90 percent of clinically significant or dangerous prostate cancers. In comparison, the widely used Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test detects only 74 percent of such cancers. This report was published by the online Daily Mail.
The PSA test measures the level of a protein produced by the prostate gland. It is currently the primary method used to assess a man’s risk of prostate cancer. However, elevated PSA levels do not always indicate cancer; levels can rise due to infections or other causes. Consequently, researchers have long been working to find ways to identify high-risk individuals more accurately and avoid unnecessary scans and biopsies. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men in the UK, affecting approximately one in eight men. Each year, around 63,000 new cases are diagnosed, and approximately 12,000 men die from the disease in the country.
Men can request a PSA test from their general practitioner to screen for prostate cancer. However, the test’s effectiveness has long been a subject of debate, as it can yield false-positive results and sometimes fails to detect aggressive tumors. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm believe the Stockholm3 test could offer a potential solution to these issues. In addition to measuring PSA levels, the new test takes into account genetic markers associated with high prostate cancer risk, other key blood proteins, the patient’s age, family medical history, and the results of any previous biopsies.
The test then generates a risk score that determines the likelihood of an individual having clinically significant prostate cancer. In the study, Grade 2 or higher-grade cancer was considered clinically significant. Although Grade 2 cancer typically progresses slowly, it is regarded as potentially harmful and is more likely to require treatment than Grade 1 cancer.
The study involved 12,670 men aged 50 to 74, with an average age of 62. Each participant underwent both PSA and Stockholm3 tests. Clinically significant prostate cancer was detected in 443 participants. Researchers found that the Stockholm3 test not only outperformed the PSA test in identifying serious tumors but also reduced the number of unnecessary biopsies.
During the two-year follow-up period, Stockholm3 failed to detect only 10 percent of significant cancers, whereas the PSA test missed 26 percent. However, the rate of false-positive results was similar for both tests. Stockholm3 correctly identified nine out of ten significant cancers, while the PSA test detected approximately three out of four.
The study authors noted that, based on this screening study with short-term follow-up, Stockholm3 offered greater clinical benefits than PSA in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer, primarily due to a lower rate of false-negative results—though the follow-up period was limited to two years. They suggest that the findings indicate Stockholm3 could be more accurate than the conventional PSA test and might reduce the need for unnecessary medical procedures.
Critics have long argued that PSA levels can rise due to factors other than prostate cancer—such as infections or aging—potentially leading to false reassurance that a patient is cancer-free or resulting in unnecessary scans and biopsies. The researchers acknowledged that the new study has certain limitations. Only one-quarter of the men invited to participate in the screening study agreed to take part.
However, they believe the findings require further in-depth scrutiny. In their view, longer-term studies are needed to evaluate long-term survival, disease-specific mortality, and cost-effectiveness. They further state that if these results are confirmed in future research, incorporating Stockholm3 into prostate cancer screening programs could significantly enhance their effectiveness and clinical utility.
Just a few weeks ago, another study suggested that an MRI-based approach to prostate cancer testing could be more effective than the current screening system. Under the proposed method, patients testing positive in a PSA test would undergo an MRI scan before proceeding to a biopsy. Experts believe this would allow doctors to take swift action even at lower PSA levels and detect cancer at an earlier stage. The expert panel further recommended adopting a risk-based, personalized approach rather than screening all men upon reaching a certain age. Individuals at low risk could undergo MRI scans every four to five years, while those at higher risk—such as Black men or individuals with genetic predispositions—should be tested more frequently. The panel advised that biopsies should be performed only when MRI scans yield clearly suspicious results, as biopsies can often be painful and may lead to sexual health issues.
According to the panel, adopting this rigorous, personalized approach could cut the number of biopsies roughly in half while detecting a similar number of cancer cases. Earlier this month, government advisors rejected calls to launch a nationwide prostate cancer screening program. However, they announced that Black men in Britain aged 45 to 74—who have not had a PSA test or prostate MRI scan in the last five years—would be eligible to participate in an ongoing screening pilot program. Meanwhile, television personality Jeremy Clarkson revealed last week that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer; he later stated that he is now cancer-free.
