Potential application of [¹⁸F]AlF-PSMA-11 PET/CT in radioiodine refractory thyroid carcinoma

Patients diagnosed with radioiodine refractory (RAI-R) thyroid carcinoma (TC) have a significantly worse prognosis than patients with radiosensitive TC. These refractory malignancies are often dedifferentiated, hindering the effectiveness of iodine-based imaging. Additionally, the role of metabolic imaging using [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT is also limited in these cases, making adequate staging of RAI-R TC challenging. Recent case series have shown promising results regarding the role of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in TC. In this study we explored the value of [¹⁸F]AlF-PSMA-11 PET/CT in RAI-R TC.

In this phase II study, lesions detected on [¹⁸F]AlF-PSMA-11 PET were compared to findings from [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT. Additionally, the serologic soluble prostate-specific membrane antigen (sPSMA) was measured using ELISA. PSMA-expression on tumor tissue in any available resection specimens was analysed with an immunostainer.

Eight patients were included, with a total of 39 identified lesions based on PET imaging. [¹⁸F]AlF-PSMA-11 PET identified 30 of 39 lesions, and [¹⁸F]FDG PET identified 33 lesions, leading to a detection rate of 76.9% and 84.6%, respectively. Interestingly, while nine lesions were solely visualized on [¹⁸F]FDG, six were uniquely seen on [¹⁸F]AlF-PSMA-11 PET. While sPSMA was immeasurable in all female patients, no correlation was found between sPSMA in male patients and disease-related factors. In five out of eight patients immunohistology showed PSMA expression on the primary tumor.

Although not all lesions could be visualized, [¹⁸F]PSMA-11 PET identified multiple lesions imperceptible on [¹⁸F]FDG PET. These results display the potential additional diagnostic role of PSMA-targeted imaging in patients with RAI-R TC. Trial registration number No. EudraCT 2021-000456-19.