Prospective intra-individual blinded comparison of [18F]PSMA-1007 and [68 Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging in patients with confirmed prostate cancer

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2022 Jan;49(2):763-776. doi: 10.1007/s00259-021-05520-y. Epub 2021 Aug 12.

Abstract

Introduction: [18F]PSMA-1007 has potential advantages over [68 Ga]Ga-PSMA-11, although limited prospective data evaluating diagnostic performance exist. The aims of this study are to describe the concordance of [18FPSMA-1007 and [68 Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 for TNM with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) prognostic stage and assess differences in tracer uptake.

Methods: Fifty men (mean age 71.8) were imaged with [68 Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [18F]PSMA-1007 < 4 weeks apart. Images were independently reported according to TNM by two experienced nuclear medicine specialists blinded to the other scan and prior imaging. Discordant results were resolved by a third independent nuclear medicine specialist. Quantitative analysis of lesion uptake and physiologic tissue for each tracer was performed by one experienced reader.

Results: Scan indications were initial staging (n = 12), biochemical recurrence (n = 27) and metastatic disease evaluation (n = 11). Most patients had ISUP grade group 3 or higher. Median PSA value was 2.7 ng/ml (IQR 0.7-12.0), and a minority of patients (28%) were currently treated with androgen deprivation therapy. [18F]PSMA-1007 uptake was significantly higher than [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 in local recurrence, nodal and distant metastases and most physiologic sites (including bone) except for urinary bladder which was significantly lower. [18F]PSMA-1007 upstaged local prostate staging in 5/17 patients, local recurrence in 3/33 patients, regional nodal disease in 3/50 patients and 1 distant metastasis (bladder). [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 upstaged regional nodal disease in 1/50 patients and distant metastasis in one patient (right adrenal). Overall AJCC prognostic stage was concordant in 46/50 (92%) patients, with two patients upstaged for both [18F]PSMA-1007 and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11. [18F]PSMA-1007 had more equivocal results (one regional node; six equivocal bone lesions, one of which was subsequently confirmed metastatic) than [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 (one equivocal local recurrence).

Conclusion: Overall AJCC prognostic stage was similar (92%) between [18F]PSMA-1007 and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11. [18F]PSMA-1007 demonstrates higher uptake within involved nodes and distant metastases and most physiologic sites except urinary bladder which aided [18F]PSMA-1007 local staging of the prostate primary/local recurrence and regional nodal disease adjacent ureters. However, [18F]PSMA-1007 liver uptake obscured a solitary right adrenal metastasis, and more equivocal bone lesions were identified. Trial registration The study was registered with Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618000665235) on 24 April 2018.

Keywords: PET/CT; Prostate cancer; [18F]PSMA-1007; [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Edetic Acid
  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives
  • Oligopeptides
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography* / methods
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Oligopeptides
  • PSMA-1007
  • Niacinamide
  • Edetic Acid