PRAISE-U pilot in Lower Silesia detects 38% clinically significant prostate cancers
Over 4.6 thousand men underwent risk-stratified prostate cancer screening, resulting in 38% of detected tumors requiring treatment.
Dolnośląskie Centrum Onkologii, Pulmonologii i Hematologii tested over 4.6 thousand men aged 50–69 in Lower Silesia as part of the European PRAISE-U project, according to Nauka w Polsce 
naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗. The initiative evaluates organized prostate cancer screening protocols designed by the European Association of Urology (EAU). Across the local cohort, 38% of all detected malignancies were clinically significant lesions requiring therapy naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗.
The pilot sent approximately 53 thousand personal invitations, reaching participants via family physicians, local community actions, and a specialized mobile medical vehicle naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗. Overall, PRAISE-U spans an almost three-year effort across 25 institutions in 12 countries, with testing sites also located in Ireland, Lithuania, and Spain naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗.
Risk stratification protocol
The diagnostic algorithm begins with a blood test measuring prostate-specific antigen levels naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗. If the measurement exceeds 3 ng/ml, the patient enters an individualized risk assessment to determine the necessity of magnetic resonance imaging naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗. Biopsy is reserved exclusively for participants whose imaging and analytical data indicate the highest danger level naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗.
Patients evaluated as low-risk despite elevated antigen levels avoid immediate imaging and biopsies, receiving a recommendation for a follow-up test in two years naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗. In Lower Silesia, 43% of participants with elevated antigen readings were categorized as low risk naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗.
Diagnostic accuracy and expansion
Among the biopsies conducted in the Polish cohort, 75% confirmed the presence of prostate cancer naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗. Across all European pilot sites, biopsies were performed in only one out of five men with elevated PSA levels, and nearly three-quarters of those procedures confirmed a malignancy naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗. The share of clinically significant tumors across Europe ranged from 19% in Lithuania to 80% in Galicia, Spain naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗.
The initiative will continue under the PRAISE-U Plus phase, adding eight pilot centers across Germany, Austria, Italy, Portugal, and Slovenia naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗. Existing regional centers will advance to a second round of participant screening matched to individual risk profiles naukawpolsce.plNauka w Polscenaukawpolsce.plOpen source ↗.
