Researchers in Cambridge say faulty gene in men almost doubles prostate cancer risk

Researchers are now calling for this group of men who carry the faulty gene to undergo regular screening. Credit: PA images

Researchers in Cambridge have found men who carry a faulty gene have almost double the risk of developing prostate cancer.

The BRCA2 gene fault is usually associated with breast and ovarian cancer in women - with those who carry it having a 50% to 85% risk of developing the disease by age 70.

But a large study by scientists at Cancer Research UK has now found men with that gene have a significantly higher risk of prostate cancer and their tumours tend to be more aggressive.

Researchers are now calling for this group of men to undergo regular screening so that they can be diagnosed and treated earlier.

Professor Charles Swanton, chief clinician at Cancer Research UK, which funded the study said: "Understanding more about people at higher risk of prostate cancer is an incredibly important area of research."

Around one in eight men in the UK will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime.

More information on prostate cancer