IntroductionThe present study investigates the role of 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT-derived whole-body metabolic and volumetric parameters in the prediction of treatment response and prognosis among metastatic hormonerefractory prostate cancer patients undergoing secondgeneration androgen receptor axis-targeted therapy (abiraterone or enzalutamide).
Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 44 metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients undergoing 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT, including 29 enzalutamide-treated and 15 abiraterone-treated patients.
ResultsOf the 44 patients included in the study, 29 received enzalutamide and 15 received abiraterone. During treatment, the changes in PET parameters were correlated with the PSA (biochemical) response. More specifically, a positive correlation was noted between PSA response and percent change in TLP (∆TLP) response, and there was concordance between the results (r = 0.652, k = 0.42, P < 0.001). Baseline PSA (P =0.05), high MTVw (P = 0.005), the increase in ∆PSA (P = 0.036), ∆TLP (P = 0.039) and percent change in MTV (∆MTV) (P = 0.049) values were identified as factors associated with mortality risk.Multivariate analysis showed that PSA1 [odds ratio (OR): 1.005, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.002-1.008, P = 0.004], ∆PSA (OR: 14.7, 95% CI 1.50-143.7, P = 0.02) and MTVw1 (OR: 11.4,6, P = 0.04) were independent prognostic factors associated with mortality risk.
ConclusionA statistically significant concordance and correlation was noted between 68 Ga-PSMA PET/ CT-derived whole-body metabolic parameters (∆TLP and ∆MTV) and ∆PSA. In addition, the baseline PSA, ∆PSA, ∆TLP, ∆MTV and TMTV were identified as predictive factors for mortality risk.