(68)Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT: a new technique with high potential for the radiotherapeutic management of prostate cancer patients

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2016 Jan;43(1):34-41. doi: 10.1007/s00259-015-3188-1. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

Abstract

Purpose: Radiotherapy is the main therapeutic approach besides surgery of localized prostate cancer. It relies on risk stratification and exact staging. This report analyses the potential of [(68)Ga]Glu-urea-Lys(Ahx)-HBED-CC ((68)Ga-PSMA-11), a new positron emission tomography (PET) tracer targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) for prostate cancer staging and individualized radiotherapy planning.

Methods: A cohort of 57 patients with prostate cancer scanned with (68)Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT for radiotherapy planning was retrospectively reviewed; 15 patients were at initial diagnosis and 42 patients at time of biochemical recurrence. Staging results of conventional imaging, including bone scintigraphy, CT or MRI, were compared with (68)Ga-PSMA ligand PET/CT results and the influence on radiotherapeutic management was quantified.

Results: (68)Ga-PSMA ligand PET/CT had a dramatic impact on radiotherapy application in the presented cohort. In 50.8 % of the cases therapy was changed.

Conclusion: The presented imaging technique of (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT could be a key technology for individualized radiotherapy management in prostate cancer.

Keywords: 68Ga-PSMA ligand PET/CT; Individualized radiotherapy; Prostate cancer; Radiotherapy planning.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Edetic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Edetic Acid / metabolism
  • Gallium Isotopes
  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Oligopeptides* / metabolism
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Gallium Isotopes
  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Oligopeptides
  • gallium 68 PSMA-11
  • Edetic Acid
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen