A new type of treatment strategy targeting a protein found on the surface of the most lethal prostate cancers could hold promise against the disease.

Scientists have created a comprehensive tool for predicting an individual’s risk of developing prostate cancer, which they say will help ensure that those men at greatest risk will receive the appropriate testing while reducing unnecessary – and potentially invasive – testing for those at very low risk.

An advanced radiotherapy technique can be used to safely treat prostate cancer patients in as little as one to two weeks, compared with the current standard, which takes one to two months.