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Gallium-68 Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Active Surveillance
Joris G Heetman1, Jules Lavalaye2, Pepijn D Polm1
1Department of Urology, Sint Antonius Hospital, Utrecht-Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Background:
The use of clinical parameters, including prebiopsy magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to decide between active surveillance (AS) and active therapy for prostate cancer (PCa) leads to imperfect selection. Additional prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging may improve risk stratification.
Objective:
To study risk stratification and patient selection for AS with the addition of PSMA PET/CT to standard practice.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
A single-centre prospective cohort study (NL69880.100.19) enrolled patients recently diagnosed with PCa who started AS. At diagnosis, all participants had undergone prebiopsy MRI and targeted biopsy for visualised lesions. Patients underwent an additional [68Ga]-PSMA PET/CT and targeted biopsy of all PSMA lesions with a maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of ≥4 not covered by previous biopsies.
Outcome Measurements And Statistical Analysis:
The primary outcome was the number needed to scan (NNS) to detect one patient with upgrading. The study was powered to detect an NNS of 10. Regarding secondary outcomes, univariate logistic regressions analyses were performed on all patients and on the patients who received additional PSMA targeted biopsies on the likelihood of upgrading.
Results And Limitations:
A total of 141 patients were included. Additional PSMA targeted biopsies were performed in 45 (32%) patients. In 13 (9%) patients, upgrading was detected: nine grade group (GG) 2, two GG 3, one GG 4, and one GG 5. The NNS was 11 (95% confidence interval 6-18). Of all participants, PSMA PET/CT and targeted biopsies yielded upgrading most frequently in patients with negative MRI (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System [PI-RADS] 1-2). Of patients who received additional PSMA targeted biopsies, upgrading was most frequently found in those with higher prostate-specific antigen density and negative MRI. Limitations included the lack of comparison with standard repeat biopsy, no central review of MRI, and possibility of biopsy sampling error.
Conclusions:
PSMA PET/CT can further improve PCa risk stratification and selection for AS patients diagnosed after MRI and targeted biopsies.
Patient Summary:
Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography and additional targeted prostate biopsies can identify more aggressive prostate cancer cases previously missed in patients recently started with expectant management for favourable-risk prostate cancer.
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