Evaluating Prostate Cancer Early Detection Strategies for Switzerland

This project evaluates whether and how a systematic population-based early detection program for prostate cancer could be implemented in Switzerland.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Switzerland and worldwide. While screening for prostate cancer using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing leads to earlier detection of prostate cancer and improves morbidity and survival, its use is controversial since it may also result in unnecessary biopsies, overdiagnoses, and overtreatment. Recent advances in prostate cancer early detection – such as the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with targeted biopsies, novel biomarker tests, and risk stratification – may relevantly improve the benefit-harm balance and the cost-effectiveness of prostate cancer screening.

In Switzerland, prostate cancer early detection is performed based on an individual basis using shared decision-making in clinical practice. Systematic screening programs may provide additional benefits over such opportunistic screening by inviting all eligible men, standardizing shared decision-making and screening procedures, and allowing monitoring and quality control. It is thus important to assess whether and how a systematic population-based early detection program for prostate cancer could be implemented.

This project aims to investigate the benefits, harms, and cost-effectiveness of different prostate cancer screening strategies and to identify implementation approaches to ensure adequate screening uptake and shared decision-making for a population-based program in Switzerland. The project consists of epidemiological analyses, surveys of clinical experts, mathematical modeling, and qualitative research. It is conducted in close collaboration with general practitioners, urologists, oncologists, public health professionals and health economists, as well as a patient advocacy organization.

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