Stage Prostate Cancer Research Articles

Imaging and therapy targeting PSMA receptors for enhanced vision and precise treatment

SummaryIn Europe, it is estimated that more than 65,000 men die each year from the consequences of advanced and metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Currently, approximately 3.2 million European men are living with PCa. While the majority of PCa patients have favorable outcomes, the 5‑year relative survival rate for those with metastatic PCa is only 32%. Recent advances in the diagnosis of PCa have been boosted by the introduction of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which might identify patients with the most aggressive form of the disease. Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) targeting PSMA receptors (PSMA-PET) has utterly revolutionized the diagnosis and staging of PCa; however, its application is still under debate. On the one hand, there has been little progress in recent years in surpassing the limitations of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), the backbone of metastatic PCa treatment. Adding additional systemic therapy became standard in the last few decades. Current ADT is only transiently effective, and patients eventually progress during ADT treatment, a condition known as castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). On the other hand, radioligand therapy (RLT) targeting these PSMA receptors, most commonly used in the studies [177Lu]lutetium-PSMA-617, has been available for this cancer stage for nearly a decade and has been recently incorporated into the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines as a robust treatment option for patients with metastatic CRPC.

Clinical stage and grade migration of localized prostate cancer at diagnosis during the past decade

ObjectivesEarly 2010s data suggest a reverse stage and grade migration towards more aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) at diagnosis, accelerated by the 2012 US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation against PSA screening. Using the National Cancer Database, we investigated the impact of the 2018 USPSTF recommendation and the COVID-19 outbreak on this shift. We hypothesized that the COVID-19 outbreak would further contribute to a stage and grade migration towards more aggressive disease. Material and methodsWe identified men with localized PCa diagnosed between 2010 and 2020. We analyzed the shift in the proportion of PCa stratified according to D'Amico risk classification. We used multivariable logistic regression models to assess the association between year of diagnosis and dichotomous variables related to clinical stage and grade of PCa. Predicted probabilities with 95% CI were computed through marginal effect analyses. ResultsWe identified 910,898 men with localized PCa. The proportion of low-risk PCa almost halved from 34.9% in 2010 to 17.7% in 2020 (P < 0.001). Compared to 2010, we found in each year increased odds of: PSA≥10 ng/dL starting from 2012 (aOR2012 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.08); cT3–T4 starting from 2015 (aOR2015 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03–1.17); ISUP GG 3–5 starting from 2011 (aOR2011 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03–1.08); and consequently, D'Amico intermediate/high-risk class starting from 2011 (aOR2011 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.05). Fluctuations in the probabilities of PSA≥10 ng/dL and cT3–T4 at diagnosis were observed over time (all P < 0.001). The probability of PSA≥10 ng/dL peaked at 29.0% (95% CI, 28.0%–29.0%) in 2018, while the probability of cT3–T4 peaked at 3.7% (95% CI, 3.6%–3.8%) in 2020. All other outcome variables demonstrated a consistent upward shift (all P < 0.001), with the highest probabilities in 2020 for ISUP GG 3–5 (42.3%, 95% CI, 41.9%–42.6%) and D'Amico intermediate/high-risk (81.3%, 95% CI, 81.0%–81.6%). ConclusionsOur study confirms an enduring shift towards a higher proportion of aggressive PCa at diagnosis, likely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the 2018 USPSTF PCa screening recommendation on the proportion of aggressive PCa seems restricted and likely affected by the pandemic outbreak. Future investigations should evaluate the long-term effects of the 2018 USPSTF recommendations in the postpandemic setting.

Practical Interpretation of 18F PSMA PET/CT: Spectrum of Findings

Prostate cancer imaging has evolved significantly with the introduction of 18F DCFPyL positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), a novel radiotracer targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). This promising imaging modality has demonstrated superior sensitivity and specificity for detecting local, regional, and distant recurrences compared with conventional imaging modalities. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the practical interpretation of 18F DCFPyL PET/CT in the management of prostate cancer, including its advantages, potential pitfalls, and comparison to other imaging techniques. Through a better understanding of 18F DCFPyL PET/CT, clinicians can more effectively incorporate this advanced imaging tool into routine clinical practice, ultimately optimizing prostate cancer diagnosis, staging, and management.

Development and validation of a model for predicting the risk of prostate cancer.

Abnormal hematologic parameters before patients undergoing prostate biopsy play a pivotal role in guiding the surgical management of prostate cancer (PCa) incidence. This study aims to establish the first nomogram for predicting PCa risk for better surgical management. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the data including basic information, preoperative hematologic parameters, and imaging examination of 540 consecutive patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy for elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in our medical center between 2017 and 2021. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for PCa occurrence, and the nomogram was constructed to predict PCa occurrence. Finally, the data including 121 consecutive patients in 2022 were prospectively collected to further verify the results. In retrospective analyses, univariate and multivariate logistic analyses identified that three variables including age, diabetes, and De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase, AST/ALT) were determined to be significantly associated with PCa occurrence. A nomogram was constructed based on these variables for predicting the risk of PCa, and a satisfied predictive accuracy of the model was determined with a C-index of 0.765, supported by a prospective validation group with a C-index of 0.736. The Decision curve analysis showed promising clinical application. In addition, our results also showed that the De Ritis ratio was significantly correlated with the clinical stage of PCa patients, including T, N, and M stages, but insignificantly related to the Gleason score. The increased De Ritis ratio was significantly associated with the risk and clinical stage of PCa and this nomogram with good discrimination could effectively improve individualized surgical management for patient underdoing prostate biopsy.

Physician Assessment of ChatGPT and Bing Answers to American Cancer Society's Questions to Ask About Your Cancer.

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are a new, publicly available tool for patients to access health care-related information with unknown reliability related to cancer-related questions. This study assesses the quality of responses to common questions for patients with cancer. From February to March 2023, we queried chat generative pretrained transformer (ChatGPT) from OpenAI and Bing AI from Microsoft questions from the American Cancer Society's recommended "Questions to Ask About Your Cancer" customized for all stages of breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer. Questions were, in addition, grouped by type (prognosis, treatment, or miscellaneous). The quality of AI chatbot responses was assessed by an expert panel using the validated DISCERN criteria. Of the 117 questions presented to ChatGPT and Bing, the average score for all questions were 3.9 and 3.2, respectively ( P < 0.001) and the overall DISCERN scores were 4.1 and 4.4, respectively. By disease site, the average score for ChatGPT and Bing, respectively, were 3.9 and 3.6 for prostate cancer ( P = 0.02), 3.7 and 3.3 for lung cancer ( P < 0.001), 4.1 and 2.9 for breast cancer ( P < 0.001), and 3.8 and 3.0 for colorectal cancer ( P < 0.001). By type of question, the average score for ChatGPT and Bing, respectively, were 3.6 and 3.4 for prognostic questions ( P = 0.12), 3.9 and 3.1 for treatment questions ( P < 0.001), and 4.2 and 3.3 for miscellaneous questions ( P = 0.001). For 3 responses (3%) by ChatGPT and 18 responses (15%) by Bing, at least one panelist rated them as having serious or extensive shortcomings. AI chatbots provide multiple opportunities for innovating health care. This analysis suggests a critical need, particularly around cancer prognostication, for continual refinement to limit misleading counseling, confusion, and emotional distress to patients and families.

Targeting MALAT1 Augments Sensitivity to PARP Inhibition by Impairing Homologous Recombination in Prostate Cancer.

PARPi are clinically approved for patients with metastatic CRPC carrying mutations in HR genes, but are ineffective for HR-proficient prostate cancer. Herein, we show that oncogenic lncRNA, MALAT1 is frequently overexpressed in advanced stage prostate cancer and plays a crucial role in maintaining genomic integrity. Importantly, we propose a novel therapeutic strategy that emphasizes MALAT1 inhibition, leading to HR dysfunction in both HR-deficient and -proficient prostate cancer, consequently augmenting their susceptibility to PARPi.

Targeting Prostate Cancer Using Bispecific T-Cell Engagers against Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen.

Prostate cancer (PCa) tops the list of cancer-related deaths in men worldwide. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is currently the most prominent PCa biomarker, as its expression levels are robustly enhanced in advanced stages of PCa. As such, PSMA targeting is highly efficient in PCa imaging as well as therapy. For the latter, PSMA-positive tumors can be targeted directly by using small molecules or macromolecules with cytotoxic payloads or indirectly by engaging the immune system of the host. Here we describe the engineering, expression, purification, and biological characterization of bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) that enable targeting PSMA-positive tumor cells by host T lymphocytes. To this end, we designed the 5D3-αCD3 BiTE as a fusion of single-chain fragments of PSMA-specific 5D3 and anti-CD3 antibodies. Detailed characterization of BiTE was performed by a combination of size-exclusion chromatography, differential scanning fluorimetry, and flow cytometry. Expressed in insect cells, BiTE was purified in monodisperse form and retained thermal stability of both functional parts and nanomolar affinity to respective antigens. 5D3-αCD3's efficiency and specificity were further evaluated in vitro using PCa-derived cell lines together with peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from human blood. Our data revealed that T-cells engaged via 5D3-αCD3 can efficiently eliminate tumor cells already at an 8 pM BiTE concentration in a highly specific manner. Overall, the data presented here demonstrate that the 5D3-αCD3 BiTE is a candidate molecule of high potential for further development of immunotherapeutic modalities for PCa treatment.

Mise au point et stratégies thérapeutiques dans le cancer de la prostate avancé et métastatique

Prostate cancer treatment relies on a multimodal approach based on the patient and disease characteristics. In this regard, imaging plays a crucial role in assessing cancer, whether it is for the initial evaluation or when recurrence occurs. Once it becomes metastatic (either at diagnosis or after curative treatment), castration, whether surgical or medical, used to be the sole treatment for these patients. However, since the introduction of chemotherapy with docetaxel and the emergence of next-generation hormone therapies such as abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide and darolutamide, their survival has been significantly improved. In addition to these systemic treatments comes the possibility of irradiating the prostate tumor in patients with low-volume metastatic disease. After several months or years, these patients inevitably progress to the lethal form of the disease: castration-resistant prostate cancer. In this context, besides docetaxel, abiraterone, and enzalutamide, other treatments are also available, such as cabazitaxel, DNA repair-targeting agents like PARP inhibitors, radium-223, or more recently, Lu-PSMA. In some cases, a combination of treatments may also be considered. The objective of this review is to examine the role of imaging in the initial staging and metastatic recurrence work-up of prostate cancer, as well as the various therapeutic strategies for hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer.

Real-World Treatment Patterns Among French Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Under Abiraterone or Enzalutamide.

Using large French retrospective study cohort of chemotherapy-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients (mCRPC; n=10,308) comparing survival between patients who initiated abiraterone (ABI; 64%) and those initiating enzalutamide (ENZ; 36%), the present objective was to describe treatment patterns in the 2 years following initiation. Using the national health data system (SNDS) from 2014 to 2018, we first explored the number of treatment lines, and secondly, patterns of patient management using state sequence analysis; cluster analyses were performed on the 0 to 12 month and 13 to 24 month periods. Age, Charlson score, and duration of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were obtained for each cluster in the first year of follow-up. Patients with only 1 treatment line accounted for 52%. In the 0 to 12 month sequence analysis, the main clusters among ABI/ENZ new users involved patients who continued the initial treatment (54% of 65% respectively) and discontinued active treatment (14.5% for both). Less than 2 years exposure to ADT prior to ABI/ENZ initiation was frequently observed for noncontrolled mCRPC, as shown in the death and switch from ABI/ENZ to docetaxel clusters. The clusters for a switch ABI/ENZ to ENZ/ABI involved 6% to 11% of the patients. Our study suggested fairly similar patterns between ABI and ENZ initiation. The cluster of patients with active treatment discontinuation needs to be further investigated, as well as factors influencing therapeutic choice. Better understanding for the use of second-generation hormone therapy in mCRPC in real life, could improve its implementation by clinicians in the early stages of prostate cancer.

Added values of transrectal ultrasonography to magnetic resonance imaging in characterizing prostate cancer: A narrative review

Many radiologists and urologists believe that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in the detection and assessment of prostate cancer. Thus, they relied on MRI alone for tumor characterization. However, the role of TRUS in prostate cancer assessment remains unclear. This information on TRUS findings can aid radiologists and urologists in detecting, targeting, and staging cancers. Additionally, there are some imaging features that are unseen on MRI, but are visible on TRUS. However, few studies have addressed the added value of TRUS in the preoperative evaluation of prostate cancer. This review aimed to assess the added value of TRUS to preoperative MRI for prostate cancer detection, characterization, and staging.

Patient-Friendly Summary of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria®: Pretreatment Detection, Surveillance, and Staging of Prostate Cancer: 2023 Update

Patient-Friendly Summary of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria®: Pretreatment Detection, Surveillance, and Staging of Prostate Cancer: 2023 Update

The Prognostic Significance of Selected HLA Alleles on Prostate Cancer Outcome.

Recently, we have shown that HLA-A*02:01 and HLA-A*24:02 in de novo metastatic prostate cancer (MPCa) have an important role in disease progression. Since de novo MPCa represents a small group among patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa), it was obvious to try to extend the validity of our results to larger cohorts of PCa patients. Herein, we analyzed patients irrespective of their disease status at diagnosis to include, besides patients with MPCa, those with localized PCa (LPCa). Our goal was to specify the prognostic value of HLA-A*02:01 and HLA-A*24:02 for overall survival (OS) prospectively and for early biochemical recurrence (BCR) and castrate resistance (CR) as additional clinical endpoints in a prospective/retrospective manner, to improve clinical decisions for patients covering all stages of PCa. On univariate analysis, HLA-A alleles were significantly associated as prognostic biomarkers with early BCR (p = 0.028; HR = 1.822), OS (p = 0.013; HR = 1.547) and showed a trend for CR (p = 0.150; HR = 1.239). On multivariate analysis, HLA-A alleles proved to be independent prognosticators for early BCR (p = 0.017; HR = 2.008), CR (p = 0.005; HR = 1.615), and OS (p = 0.002; HR = 2.063). Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that patients belonging to the HLA-A*02:01+HLA-A*24:02- group progressed much faster to BCR and CR and had also shorter OS compared to HLA-A*24:02+ patients. Patients being HLA-A*02:01-HLA-A*24:02- exhibited varying clinical outcomes, pointing to the presence of additional HLA-A alleles with potential prognostic value. Our data underline the HLA-A alleles as valuable prognostic biomarkers for PCa that may assist with the appropriate treatment and follow-up schedule based on the risk for disease progression to avoid over-diagnosis and over-treatment.

Diagnostic accuracy of 18F Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) PET-CT radiotracers in staging and restaging of high-risk prostate cancer patients and patients with biochemical recurrence: protocol for an overview of reviews.

Background: Correct staging and risk stratification is essential in ensuring prostate cancer patients are offered the most appropriate treatment. Interest has been growing in the use of radiotracers targeting prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), including the use of 18F-PSMA PET-CT, as part of the primary staging or restaging of prostate cancer. Preliminary scoping identified a number of relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses; however, individually, these each appear to look at only part of the picture. An overview of reviews aims to systematically identify, appraise and synthesise multiple systematic reviews, related to a relevant research question or questions. We present a protocol for an overview of reviews, which aims to collate existing evidence syntheses exploring the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-PSMA in staging and restaging of prostate cancer. It also aims to highlight evidence gaps in prostate cancer staging or restaging. Methods: This protocol is reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for systematic review protocols (PRISMA-P). The search strategy will be designed in consultation with a librarian. Searches will be performed in Medline (EBSCO), Embase (Ovid), Google Scholar and the Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews, supplemented by a targeted grey literature search, forward citation searching and searching reference lists of included reviews. No language or date restrictions will be applied to the eligibility criteria or the search strategy. Title & abstract and full text screening will be performed independently by two reviewers. Data will be extracted by one reviewer and checked in full by a second reviewer. Quality appraisal will be performed using the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) tool independently by two reviewers, and results will be narratively synthesised. Conclusions: This overview of reviews may be of interest to healthcare professionals, academics and health policy decision-makers. Registration: OSF (September 7, 2023).

The Role of Multiparametric MRI in the Local Staging of Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer ranks as the second most frequently diagnosed cancer globally among men and stands as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in males. Hence, an early and precise diagnosis and staging are critical. Traditional staging is based on clinical nomograms but presents a lower performance than prostate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Since tumor staging serves as the basis for risk stratification, prognosis, and treatment decision-making, the primary objective of mpMRI is to distinguish between organ-confined and locally advanced diseases. Therefore, this imaging modality has emerged as the optimal selection for the local staging of prostate cancer, offering incremental value in evaluating pelvic nodal disease and bone involvement, and supplying supplementary insights regarding the precise location and disease extension. As per the Prostate Imaging Reporting & Data System v2.1 guideline, a comprehensive and accurate mpMRI requires several key sequences, which include T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) for morphological assessment, with T2WI serving as the cornerstone for local staging. Additionally, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic sequences acquired with intravenous administration of paramagnetic contrast medium (DCE) are crucial components. It is worth noting that while MRI exhibits high specificity, its sensitivity in diagnosing extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and lymph node metastases is limited. Moreover, mpMRI has its own constraints and is not as effective in detecting distant metastases or evaluating lymph nodes, for which extended pelvic lymph node dissection remains the gold standard. This review aims to highlight the significance of mpMRI in prostate cancer staging and provide a practical approach to assessing extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasions, and the involvement of adjacent organs and lymph nodes.

The association betweenbeta-blockers use and prostate cancer mortality: A mini systematic review and meta-analysis.

Preclinical studies have shown that the sympathetic nervous system is involved in the development of metastases, suggesting a potential antitumor effect of beta-blockers. These findings sparked a controversy over the past decade regarding the direction of the association between beta-blocker use and prostate cancer (PCa) mortality. To investigate this association, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. The review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysesguidelines to identify eligible studies. The primary outcome was PCa mortality in beta-blocker users versus nonusers, and overall survival was studied as a secondary endpoint. We assessed heterogeneity using the Cochrane Q test and quantified it using I2 values. In the case of heterogeneity (Cochrane Q test p < 0.05 and I2 > 50%), random-effect models were used to determine the association between beta-blockers use and survival outcomes. Ten studies met our inclusion criteria and a total of 74,970 patients were included: 26,674 beta-blocker users and 48,326 nonusers. There was no statistically significant association between beta-blocker exposure and PCa mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-1.09; p = 0.61). However, significant heterogeneity was found. Meta-regression analysis to explain heterogeneity showed no effect of any of the variables assessed (country, percentage of beta-blocker users, type of beta-blocker [selective and nonselective], study period, PCa stage and follow-up duration; all p > 0.05). We found similar results when we restricted the analysis to studies that include only patients with advanced PCa (HR 0.92; 95% CI 0.80-1.06; p = 0.24). Similarly, we found no association with overall survival (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.94-1.10; p = 0.64). Meta-regression analysis was also performed, but none of the variables assessed explained the observed heterogeneity (all p > 0.05). We found no association between beta-blockers use and overall survival or PCa mortality. This meta-analysis, which includes a considerable population and the most recent literature, provides important data for routine clinical care and patient counseling.

Opportunities for prostate-specific membrane antigen hybrid imaging in prostate cancer

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) hybrid imaging is apromising new technique gaining importance in the field of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and treatment planning. By combining PSMA radioligands and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), PSMA hybrid imaging opens up new diagnostic opportunities. PSMA-PET/CT (PET: positron-emission tomography) is already well established in high-risk PCa for primary staging and tumor localization when biochemical recurrence occurs. Further potential indications for PSMA-PET/CT include tumor detection in the initial work-up before arebiopsy with improved accuracy, the identification of target structures for precise local treatment in recurrent PCa (salvage radiotherapy or radio-guided surgery) as well as aprediction of response to PSMA radioligand therapy. This narrative review is based on arecent literature search and aims to highlight the opportunities of PSMA imaging in different disease stages of PCa.

From Screening to Mortality Reduction: An Overview of Empirical Data on the Patient Journey in European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer Rotterdam After 21 Years of Follow-up and a Reflection on Quality of Life

BackgroundPrevious research quantified the effect of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based prostate cancer (PCa) screening on quality-adjusted life years using 11-yr follow-up data from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) extrapolated by the Microsimulation Screening Analysis (MISCAN). ERSPC data now matured to 21 yr of follow-up. ObjectiveTo provide an overview of the effect of PSA-based screening on tumour characteristics and PCa treatment using long-term, detailed, empirical ERSPC data. Design, setting, and participantsMen were included from the ERSPC Rotterdam who were randomised to a PSA-based screening (S) or control (C) arm. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisWe assessed the effects of PSA-based screening on the number of PCa diagnoses, tumour characteristics, treatments, and cumulative incidence of disease progression. We also evaluated the changes in tumour characteristics and treatments over time for both study arms. Results and limitationsAmong PCa patients in the S-arm, fewer patients were diagnosed with advanced tumour stages (T3/T4: 12% vs 23%; relative risk [RR] = 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44–0.57), less disease progression was observed, and less secondary treatment (30% vs 48%; RR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.57–0.66; p < 0.001) and less palliative treatment were needed (21% vs 55%; RR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.35–0.42) than among those in the C-arm. This was at the cost of overdiagnosis and increased local treatments (eg, radical prostatectomy: 32% vs 14%; RR = 2.18; 95% CI 1.92–2.48). Over time, the number of local treatments decreased, whereas expectant management strategies increased. The RRs of treatments were slightly different from those of the MISCAN. ConclusionsAfter 21 yr of follow-up, empirical data of the ERSPC showed that PSA-based screening reduces advanced PCa stages, disease progression, and extensive treatments at the cost of more overdiagnosis and probably more overtreatment. Our data showed reduced local treatments and increased expectant management strategies over time. Patient summaryProstate-specific antigen–based screening reduces the number of invasive prostate cancer treatments needed, however, at the cost of more overdiagnosis and probably more overtreatment. Limiting these costs remains crucial to benefit optimally from prostate cancer screening.

18 F-prostate specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computerized tomography for lymph node staging in medium/high risk prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lymph node staging of prostate cancer (PCa) is important for planning and monitoring of treatment. 18 F-prostate specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computerized tomography ( 18 F-PSMA PET/CT) has several advantages over 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT, but its diagnostic value requires further investigation. This meta-analysis focused on establishing the diagnostic utility of 18 F-PSMA PET/CT for lymph node staging in medium/high-risk PCa. We searched the EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane library, and Web of Science databases from inception to October 1, 2022. Prostate cancer, 18 F, lymph node, PSMA, and PET/CT were used as search terms and the language was limited to English. We additionally performed a manual search using the reference lists of key articles. Patients and study characteristics were extracted and the QUADAS-2 tool was employed to evaluate the quality of included studies. Sensitivity, specificity, the positive and negative likelihood ratio (PLR and NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), area under the curve (AUC), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of 18 F-PSMA PET/CT. Stata 17 software was employed for calculation and statistical analyses. A total of eight diagnostic tests including 734 individual samples and 6346 lymph nodes were included in this meta-analysis. At the patient level, the results of each consolidated summary were as follows: sensitivity of 0.57 (95% CI 0.39-0.73), specificity of 0.95 (95% CI 0.92-0.97), PLR of 11.2 (95% CI 6.6-19.0), NLR of 0.46 (95% CI 0.31-0.68), DOR of 25 (95% CI 11-54), and AUC of 0.94 (95% CI 0.92-0.96). At the lesion level, the results of each consolidated summary were as follows: sensitivity of 0.40 (95% CI 0.21-0.62), specificity of 0.99 (95% CI 0.95-1.00), PLR of 40.0 (95% CI 9.1-176.3), NLR of 0.61 (95% CI 0.42-0.87), DOR of 66 (95% CI 14-311), and AUC of 0.86 (95% CI 0.83-0.89). 18 F-PSMA PET/CT showed moderate sensitivity but high specificity in lymph node staging of medium/high-risk PCa. The diagnostic efficacy was almost equivalent to that reported for 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), No. CRD42023391101.

Application of targeted diagnosis of PSMA in the modality shift of prostate cancer diagnosis: a review.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a serious threat to the health of men all over the world. The progression of PCa varies greatly among different individuals. In clinical practice, some patients often progress to advanced PCa. Therefore, accurate imaging for diagnosis and staging of PCa is particularly important for clinical management of patients. Conventional imaging examinations such as MRI and CT cannot accurately diagnose the pathological stages of advanced PCa, especially metastatic lymph node (LN) stages. As a result, developing an accurate molecular targeted diagnosis is crucial for advanced PCa. Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is of great value in the diagnosis of PCa because of its specific expression in PCa. At present, researchers have developed positron emission tomography (PET) targeting PSMA. A large number of studies have confirmed that it not only has a higher tumor detection rate, but also has a higher diagnostic efficacy in the pathological stage of advanced PCa compared with traditional imaging methods. This review summarizes recent studies on PSMA targeted PET in PCa diagnosis, analyzes its value in PCa diagnosis in detail, and provides new ideas for urological clinicians in PCa diagnosis and clinical management.

Local Staging of Prostate Cancer at MRI: What the Urologist and Radiation Oncologist Want to Know.

Local Staging of Prostate Cancer at MRI: What the Urologist and Radiation Oncologist Want to Know.