PET imaging can detect early progression of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)  in men receiving bipolar androgen therapy (BAT), according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

A team led by Dr. Mark Markowski established that “[n]ew radiotracer-avid lesions on 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT in men with mCRPC undergoing BAT can indicate early progression.” 

The study targeted six men who had mCRPC and were receiving BAT treatment. Of the six, three showed progression on 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT from baseline at three months, though they had “stable disease or better on contemporaneous conventional imaging,” according to the authors. For the three who didn’t show progression on 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT, “radiographic progression was not observed for a least 6 mo.”

These finding, though promising, were obtained with a small sample size, warranting further research. “A larger prospective study is underway to confirm these findings,” wrote the team, according to Morton.

Sources:

Mark C. Markowski, Pedro Isaacsson Velho, Mario A. Eisenberger, Martin G. Pomper, Kenneth J. Pienta, Michael A. Gorin, Emmanuel S. Antonarakis, Samuel R. Denmeade, Steven P. Rowe. “Detection of Early Progression with 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT in Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Receiving Bipolar Androgen Therapy.” Journal of Nuclear Medicine Sep 2021, 62 (9) 1270-1273; DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.259226 Accessed September 15, 2021, at https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/62/9/1270

Morton, WIll. “PET tracer assesses response to new prostate cancer treatment.” AuntMinnie.com September 8, 2021. Accessed September 15, 2021, at https://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=mol&pag=dis&ItemID=133434