Previous studies have shown that the standard test for prostate cancer (prostate-specific antigen or PSA) would not work as a screening tool for the general population as it is not reliable enough.

But the new study found PSA tests were more likely to pick out more serious forms of prostate cancer in men who carry the BRCA2 gene fault than in non-carriers.

This means men with the faulty gene could benefit from regular PSA testing.

The study - published in the journal European Urology - included data for 902 BRCA2 carriers and 497 BRCA2 non-carriers.

All men were offered a yearly PSA test for three years and those with elevated PSA reading were offered a biopsy to confirm whether they had cancer.

The researchers found that men who carry the BRCA2 gene fault were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as non-carriers.

Those with the BRCA2 gene fault also had more serious tumours - with 77 per cent of men having clinically significant disease compared with 40 per cent of non-carriers.

Men with the fault were also diagnosed at a younger age - at an average of 61 compared with 64 for non-carriers.

Experts estimate that about one in 300 white men could be carrying the genetic fault, but not all of them will develop prostate cancer.

Study leader Rosalind Eeles, professor of oncogenetics at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: "For women who undergo genetic testing, options are available to them if they carry a BRCA fault, including preventative surgery and increased screening.

"But there's no prevention pathway in place if men decide to find out if they're a carrier, which is why our research is so important.

Read more here:
Men with 'Angelina Jolie gene' at double the risk of prostate cancer - Telegraph.co.uk

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