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Prostate cancer screening in Europe: future directions and perspectives

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 29, pages 100–102 (2026)Cite this article

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Whilst PSA-based screening for prostate cancer (PCa) has shown the ability to reduce the burden of metastases and the PCa-specific mortality (PCSM) [1], the downside has been a high rate of overdiagnosis and resulting overtreatment [2]. This imbalance likely explains why Lithuania is the only European member state (MS) with a national PCa screening program since 2006 [3].

In the past few years, new tools have been integrated into the PCa diagnostic algorithm to reduce overdiagnosis. The main tools being stratification steps (e.g. risk calculators or additional biomarkers) with or without MRI, leading to updated recommendations from urological associations worldwide on PCa early detection [4].

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Fig. 1: Display of potential scenarios.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    M. J. van Harten, S. Remmers, R. C. N. van den Bergh & M. J. Roobol

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  1. M. J. van Harten
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  2. S. Remmers
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  3. R. C. N. van den Bergh
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  4. M. J. Roobol
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Contributions

MVH, SR, RVDB and MR designed the study protocol. The manuscript was drafted by MVH. SR, RVDB and MR critically reviewed and edited the content. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to M. J. van Harten.

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van Harten, M.J., Remmers, S., van den Bergh, R.C.N. et al. Prostate cancer screening in Europe: future directions and perspectives. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 29, 100–102 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41391-025-00989-2

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