Pathological predictors of ¹⁸ F-DCFPyL prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive recurrence after radical...

To assess the correlation of pathological radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen features and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) characteristics to imaging findings on subsequent ¹⁸ F-DCFPyL positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with biochemical failure (BF).

Retrospective analysis of combined ¹⁸ F-DCFPyL PET/CT database of patients from centres in Australia and New Zealand was performed. A total of 205 patients presenting with BF after RP were included in this study. Imaging findings on ¹⁸ F-DCFPyL PET/CT were recorded and correlated with the PSA characteristics at BF and pathological features of the original tumour.

Of the 205 patients, 120 (58.5%) had evidence of abnormal prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression compatible with recurrent prostate cancer. Increasing PSA velocity (P = 0.01), International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group (P = 0.02), lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.05) and nodal positivity (P = 0.02) at the time of RP were more likely to demonstrate PSMA positivity. Multivariable logistic regression revealed a higher PSA level prior to PSMA PET/CT (P < 0.01), adjuvant radiotherapy (P = 0.09), Gleason score ≥8 (P < 0.01) and nodal positivity (P = 0.05) were all predictive of PSMA positivity.

¹⁸ F-DCFPyL PET/CT positivity, both generally and site specific, correlates with PSA and RP pathological factors. Our results echo cohorts focussing on post-RP patients, those imaged with ⁶⁸ Ga-PSMA and those concerning biochemical persistence. Nomograms that include risk factors for 'PSMA-positive recurrence' in the BF population may increase the catchment of patients with disease confined to the prostate bed or pelvis who have a greater probability of prolonged disease-free survival.