Defining radio-recurrent intra-prostatic target volumes using PSMA-targeted PET/CT and multi-parametric MRI

Our purpose was to evaluate intra-prostatic cancer volumes for salvage radiotherapy in men with recurrent prostate cancer confined to the prostate post-primary radiotherapy using mpMRI and 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT (PET).

Men with biochemical failure post-primary radiotherapy were enrolled in a multi-centre trial investigating mpMRI and PET. All men with isolated intra-prostatic recurrence are included in this secondary analysis. The intra-prostatic gross tumour volume (GTV) was manually delineated on mpMRI and was also delineated on PET using three methods: 1. manually, 2. using a 30% threshold of maximum intra-prostatic standard uptake value (SUVmax), and 3. using a 67% threshold of this SUVmax. Clinical target volumes (CTV) including expansions on each GTV were generated. Conformity indices were performed between the mpMRI CTV and each PET CTV. Correlation with biopsy and clinical outcomes were performed.

Of the 36 men included, 30 (83%) had disease in two quadrants or less using the combination of mpMRI and PET. Mean target volume (union of CTV on mpMRI and CTV manually delineated on PET) was 12.2 cc (49% of prostate gland volume). 12/36 (33%) men had a biopsy. Per-patient sensitivity was 91% for mpMRI and 82% for PET.

mpMRI and PET provide complementary information for delineation of intra-prostatic recurrent disease. Union of CTV on mpMRI and PET is often less than 50% of the prostate, suggesting this imaging could help define a target for focal salvage therapy.