Impact of 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the treatment of prostate cancer: Initial experience in Spain

• Published in: Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy 2020-05, Vol.25 (3), p.405
• Main Authors: Couñago, Felipe, Martínez-Ballesteros, Claudio, Artigas, Carlos, Díaz-Gavela, Ana Aurora, Gómez, Luis Leonardo Guerrero, Lillo-García, María Eugenia, Chicharo, José Reinaldo, Recio, Manuel, Maldonado, Antonio, Thuissard, Israel J, Andreu-Vázquez, Cristina, Sanz-Rosa, David, Conde-Moreno, Antonio José, Marcos, Francisco José, García, Sofía Sánchez, Martínez-Salamanca, Juan Ignacio, Carballido-Rodríguez, Joaquin, Hornedo, Javier, Cerro, Elia Del
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1507-1367

To evaluate whether positron-emission tomography/computed tomography with Ga-PSMA ( Ga-PSMA PET/CT) influences the therapeutic management of patients with primary or recurrent prostate cancer (PCa). Although Ga-PSMA PET/CT is one of the best options for staging or restaging patients with PCa, its availability is still very limited in Spain. The present study reports the results of the first group of patients in Spain who underwent Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging. All patients (n = 27) with a histological diagnosis of PCa who underwent Ga-PSMA PET/CT prior to the definitive treatment decision at the only centre with this technology in Spain during 2017-2018 were included. Two nuclear medicine physicians and a radiologist reviewed the imaging studies. The clinical impact was assessed from a theoretical perspective, based on the treatment that would have been applied if no data from the Ga-PSMA PET/CT were available. Most patients (n = 26; 96%) had persistent disease or biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, or combined treatment. One patient underwent Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging to stage high-risk PCa. Overall, Ga-PSMA PET/CT was positive in 19 patients (70.4%). In 68.75% of these patients, none of the other imaging tests-MRI, CT, or bone scans-performed prior to the Ga-PSMA PET/CT were able to detect the presence of cancerous lesions. Overall, the findings of the Ga-PSMA PET/CT led to a modification of the therapeutic approach in 62.96% of the patients in the study. Ga-PSMA PET/CT alters the therapeutic approach in a substantial proportion of patients with PCa.