Heterogeneity of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression in classic and apoptotic circulating tumor cells (CTC) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Abstract

198 Background: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a folate hydrolase expressed on the surface of PC cells that has been used as a target to detect disease and selectively deliver cytotoxic agents and radionuclides. The ability to detect PSMA levels on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may identify patients likely to benefit from such targeted therapy. Technology developed by Epic Sciences utilizes high definition imaging of plated nucleated cells. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from patients (pts) with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Cells were stained for CK, CD45, PSMA and categorized as classic CTC (CK+, CD45-, intact/morphologically distinct nuclei) or apoptotic CTC (CK+, CD45-, morphology suggesting apoptosis). Clinical data including treatment, metastatic sites, Veridex CellSearch CTC enumeration, prostate-specific antigen, and alkaline phosphatase was collected. Results: Fourteen pts with mCRPC, including eight with serial samples were analyzed (33 samples in total). At the first draw (t1), classic CTC were detected in 13 pts (93%), (median two cells/ml, range 0 to 40 cells/ml) and apoptotic CTC in 14 pts (100%) (median four cells/ml, range 1 to 18 cells/ml), including six pts (42%) with no CTC by Veridex CellSearch. PSMA expression was detected in five pts (36%) with classic CTC of which a median of 32% of cells (range 5 to 100%) expressed the antigen. Similar intra-patient heterogeneity was seen for the 10 pts (71.4%) with PSMA+ apoptotic CTCs (median 33.5%, range 11 to 75% cells). During treatment, often with more complete androgen suppression, PSMA was detected in 3 of the 8 (38%) pts with no PSMA+ classic CTCs at t1. The presence of PSMA expression in apoptotic CTCs did not appear to change while on therapy. Conclusions: A larger percentage of PSMA expression was seen in mCRPC pts in apoptotic CTC (10 out of 14) than classic CTC (5 out of 14) at t1, with intra-patient cell heterogeneity of PSMA expression in both CTC populations. Serial measures suggest dynamic changes in PSMA expression over time. The threshold of detectable cells and proportion and degree of PSMA expression that associates with drug sensitivity is unknown. Larger samples of pts at discrete time points on therapy are underway to further elucidate the potential clinical relevance.