UK National Screening Committee position statement on surrogate outcomes in cancer screening trials

Screening can reduce mortality and morbidity by enabling earlier detection and treatment of cancer, but may also cause harm, including false positive results and diagnosis and treatment of cancers that would never have caused harm. The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises the four UK governments on all matters relating to systematic screening programmes, including their introduction, modification, and cessation. Its recommendations are made through a multicriteria assessment that considers evidence on mortality and morbidity benefit alongside potential harms, equity, acceptability, feasibility, and cost effectiveness to determine overall balance of benefit and harm to the population.The UK NSC research and methodology group supports funders and researchers by advising on research requirements to inform UK NSC advice. This position statement, intended for developers of screening tests, researchers, and funders, outlines our approach and current assessment of the evidence on surrogate outcomes in adult cancer screening, in advance of cancer mortality….