Prediction of Lesion-Based Treatment Response after Two Cycles of Lu-177 Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen Treatment in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Using Machine Learning

Urol Int. 2025;109(2):128-134. doi: 10.1159/000541628. Epub 2024 Sep 30.

Abstract

Introduction: Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) therapy is a radionuclide treatment that prolongs overall survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (MCRPC). We aimed to predict lesion-based treatment response after Lu-177 PSMA treatment using machine learning with texture analysis data obtained from pretreatment Gallium-68 (Ga-68) PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Methods: Eighty-three progressed, and 91 nonprogressed malignant foci on pretreatment Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT of 9 patients were used for analysis. Malignant foci with at least a 30% increase in Ga-68 PSMA uptake after two cycles of treatment were considered progressed lesions. All other changes in Ga-68 PSMA uptake of the lesions were considered nonprogressed lesions. The classifiers tried to predict progressed lesions.

Results: Logistic regression, Naive Bayes, and k-nearest neighbors' area under the ROC curve (AUC) values in detecting progressed lesions in the training group were 0.956, 0.942, and 0.950, respectively, and their accuracy was 87%, 85%, and 89%, respectively. The AUC values of the classifiers in the testing group were 0.937, 0.954, and 0.867, respectively, and their accuracy was 85%, 88%, and 79%, respectively.

Conclusion: Using machine learning with texture analysis data obtained from pretreatment Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT in MCRPC predicted lesion-based treatment response after two cycles of Lu-177 PSMA treatment.

Keywords: Ga-68 PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography; Lutetium-177 PSMA; Machine learning; Prediction; Texture analysis.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Surface*
  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lutetium* / therapeutic use
  • Machine Learning*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant* / diagnostic imaging
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant* / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant* / radiotherapy
  • Radioisotopes* / therapeutic use
  • Radiopharmaceuticals* / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Lutetium
  • Lutetium-177
  • Radioisotopes
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II
  • FOLH1 protein, human
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Gallium Radioisotopes