We evaluated the clinical utility of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT for staging and risk stratification of treatment-naïve prostate cancer (PCa) and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Twenty-two consecutive patients with treatment-naïve PCa and 18 with mCRPC were enrolled. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed for the evaluation of primary prostatic lesions, and bone scans were used for evaluation bone metastasis. Among the 40 patients, 37 (92.5% [22 treatment-naïve PCa, 15 mCRPC]) showed PSMA-avid lesions on 68Ga-PSMA-11 images. Only 3 patients with stable mCRPC after chemotherapy were negative for PSMA. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 68Ga-PSMA-11 imaging were 97.3%, 100.0% and 97.5%, respectively. The maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) of prostatic lesions was 17.09 ± 11.08 and 13.33 ± 12.31 in treatment-naïve PCa and mCRPC, respectively. 68Ga-PSMA-11 revealed 105 metastatic lymph nodes in 15 patients; the SUVmax was 16.85 ± 9.70 and 7.54 ± 5.20 in treatment-naïve PCa and mCRPC, respectively. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT also newly detected visceral metastasis in 9 patients (22.5%) and bone metastasis in 29 patients (72.5%). 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT exhibits potential for staging and risk stratification in naïve PCa, as well as improved sensitivity for detection of lymph node and remote metastasis.

PurposeThere is increasing evidence for convincing efficacy and safety of 177Lu-labled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligand therapy (PRLT) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, data are not available regarding the feasibility of 177Lu-labled PSMA-targeted RLT in East Asians. The present study summarized the first experience with 177Lu-PSMA-I&T therapy for mCRPC in China.MethodsForty consecutive patients with mCRPC were enrolled from December 2019 to September 2021. Eligible patients received 177Lu-PSMA-I&T RLT at intervals of 8-12 weeks. Toxicity was assessed based on standardized physicians’ reports and the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events criteria. Response to PRLT was evaluated according to the changes of prostate specific antigen (PSA) response and imaging response. Quality of life (QOL), Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and pain (visual analogue scale, VAS) were also evaluated. The impacts of baseline parameters on the therapeutic effects were explored by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.ResultsAll patients underwent a total of 86 cycles of 177Lu-PSMA-I&T (range: 1-5 cycles) with dosages of 3.70-14.43GBq per cycle, with a median of 8 months followed up. Six patients (15%) developed mild reversible xerostomia during follow-up, and 28 patients (70%) experienced grade 1-4 bone marrow dysfunction. Changes in PSA were assessed after therapy, accompanied by the partial response (PR) in 25 patients (62.5%), the stable disease (SD) in 5 patients (12.5%), and the progressive disease (PD) in 10 patients (25%), respectively. QOL, KPS (%) and VAS scores were improved significantly due to treatment (P<0.05). Overweight and elevated AST, ALP, and LDH were associated with poor outcomes.Conclusions177Lu-PSMA-I&T achieves the favourable response and well tolerance in mCRPC, which associates with not only PSA decline but also with tumor remission including lymphadenopathy and bone metastasis. We also find that patients with overweight and high AST, ALP, and LDH should be cautious to undergo the PRLT. Large-cohort studies are warranted to confirm the initial findings and elucidate the survival benefit of the treatment.

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The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical value of serum chromogranin A (CgA) levels in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) and to compare them with tumour expression of CgA. A total of 109 consecutive patients with confirmed GEP-NENs were enrolled in this prospective study between December 2012 and August 2016, including 73 patients with primary or recurrent GEP-NENs and 36 patients with GEP-NENs that were treated following surgery. Furthermore, 30 patients with benign gastrointestinal diseases and 30 healthy volunteers served as control groups. Serum CgA levels were measured by ELISA, using different reference values, in order to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy. Serum neuron-specific enolase was also measured to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy and analyse its association with serum CgA levels. The levels of CgA, synaptophysin and neural cell adhesion molecule 1 in the tumour tissue were assessed by immunohistochemical assays. The results indicated that serum CgA levels were significantly higher in patients with GEP-NENs compared with the control groups (P<0.05). No association was observed between serum CgA levels and tumour grade (G1, G2 and G3), but serum CgA levels differed significantly between patients with GEP-NENs of different origins (P<0.05). A serum CgA cutoff value of 85.3 ng/ml was associated with high sensitivity (64.4%) and specificity (92.7%). Different reference values were recommended for NENs of different origins, with serum CgA cutoff values of 96.72, 51.13 and 86.19 ng/ml for the stomach, intestines and pancreas, respectively. The serum CgA levels were consistent with the CgA expression in the tumour. In conclusion, serum CgA may serve as a circulating pathological biomarker for the diagnosis of GEP-NENs. The use of different reference values for different tumour origins may improve the diagnostic efficacy of CgA for GEP-NENs. A cutoff value of 85.3 ng/ml is recommended in the Chinese population.

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