Uptake of 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 in Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Prostate Cancer: A Phase 1 Proof-of-Concept Study

Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2022 Apr;37(3):205-213. doi: 10.1089/cbr.2021.0322. Epub 2021 Dec 28.

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated tracer uptake and lesion detectability with the novel radiopharmaceutical 18F-radiohybrid (rh)PSMA-7.3 in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and Methods: Ten patients (three with high-risk primary localized PCa [Cohort A], three with hormone-sensitive metastatic PCa [Cohort B], and four with castration-resistant metastatic PCa [Cohort C]) underwent whole-body 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and findings were correlated with standard-of-care imaging. 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and its possible association with Gleason score (GS)/International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group (GG) and serum PSA levels were evaluated. Cohort A 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 findings were also correlated with histopathology, including prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) staining. Results: 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 identified the primary tumor in 3/3 Cohort A patients and lymph node (LN) and/or bone lesions in 7/7 metastatic patients. All prostate lesions with GS ≥4 + 3/GG ≥3 were identified, but only 1/4 GS ≤3 + 4/GG ≤2 lesions. Prostate lesion SUVmax appeared positively associated with GS/GGs. Among metastatic patients, 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 identified all known pelvic and extrapelvic LN metastases and all known bone lesions. 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 detected possible additional nodal and bone lesions not reported in standard-of-care imaging in all metastatic patients. No association existed between bone or LN uptake and either GS/GG or PSA. Conclusions: 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 PET/CT showed good detection of primary and metastatic PCa lesions. In this small patient population, 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 identified intraprostatic lesions with GS ≥4 + 3/GG ≥3 with good accuracy.

Keywords: 18F; PET/CT; PSMA; biodistribution; rhPSMA.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I

MeSH terms

  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography* / methods
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen