Defining Roles for PSMA PET Imaging in Prostate Cancer

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The prospective PSMA imaging study has accrued over 140 patients and is demonstrating that biochemically recurrent prostate cancer remains an indolent process, regardless of findings on prostate specific membrane (PSMA) imaging. As we have shared at a recent ASCO meeting, less than 2% of patients followed for at least 6 months have had metastatic progression of disease on a CT and bone scan (conventional imaging). We will provide 1 year data at an upcoming meeting this fall. These unique data provide valuable insight in how to use PSMA imaging in recurrent prostate cancer. Furthermore, it highlights most men will not need immediate treatment despite the ability to detect disease on ultra sensitive PSMA imaging. The implications are that men with a median age of 71 can defer therapy many years without a negative impact on their life span. The benefit of deferring therapy is that also defers the toxicity of androgen deprivation therapy which is associated with chronic health conditions. This data will inform optimal care of the management of prostate cancer and limit the over treatment of many men each year.