Strong Correlation Between SUVmax on PSMA PET/CT and Numeric Drop-In γ-Probe Signal for Intraoperative Identification of Prostate Cancer Lesions

Abstract

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET is used to select patients with recurrent prostate cancer for metastasis-directed therapy. A surgical approach can be achieved through radioguided surgery (RGS), using a Drop-In γ-probe that traces lesions that accumulate the radioactive signal. With the aim of guiding patient selection for salvage surgery, we studied the correlation between the SUV_max of lesions on preoperative PSMA PET/CT and their intraoperative counts/s measured using the Drop-In γ-probe. Methods: A secondary analysis based on the prospective, single-arm, and single-center feasibility study was conducted (NCT03857113). Patients (n = 29) with biochemical recurrence after previous curative-intent therapy and a maximum of 3 suggestive lesions within the pelvis on preoperative PSMA PET/CT were included. Patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy within 6 mo before surgery were excluded. All patients received an intravenous injection of ^99mTc-PSMA-I&S 1 d before surgery. Radioguidance was achieved using a Drop-In γ-probe. Correlation was determined using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (ρs). Subgroup analysis was based on the median SUV_max Results: In total, 33 lesions were visible on the PSMA PET/CT images, with a median overall SUV_max of 6.2 (interquartile range [IQR], 4.2-9.7). RGS facilitated removal of 31 lesions. The median Drop-In counts/s were 134 (IQR, 81-220) in vivo and 109 (IQR, 72-219) ex vivo. The intensity of the values correlated with SUV_max (ρs = 0.728 and 0.763, respectively; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis based on median SUV_max in the group with an SUV_max of less than 6 showed no statistically significant correlation with the numeric signal in vivo (ρs = 0.382; P = 0.221) or the signal-to-background-ratio (ρs = 0.245; P = 0.442), whereas the group with an SUV_max of 6 or more showed respective statistically significant positive correlations (ρs = 0.774 [P < 0.001] and ρs = 0.647 [P = 0.007]). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that there is a direct relation between SUV_max on PSMA PET/CT and the readout recorded by the surgical Drop-In probe, thereby indicating that SUV_max can be used to select patients for PSMA RGS. For more definitive subgroup definitions for treatment recommendations, further studies are necessary to validate the present findings.

Keywords: PSMA PET/CT; SUVmax; prostate cancer; prostate specific membrane antigen; radioguided surgery; γ-probe.