Evaluation of Gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (GA-68 PSMA PET/CT) in recurrent prostate cancer: a retrospective review of initial clinical experience at Tygerberg Hospital.

Introduction: prostate cancer recurrence after definitive therapy for organ-confined disease often manifests as rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels without clinically overt disease. ⁶⁸Gallium prostate-specific membrane antigen, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (⁶⁸GaPSMA PET/CT) imaging plays a major role in the management of recurrent prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the positivity rate of ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET/CT scans in cases of prostate cancer recurrence, and to compare the results with existing international literature.

Methods: a retrospective analysis of 177 ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET/CT scans of patients with biochemically proven disease recurrence was performed. The possible association of a positive PSMA PET/CT with the PSA level and Gleason score were analyzed.

Results: a total of 177 ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET/CT scans were performed in 163 patients (median age 66 years). Of these, 117 (66%) scans detected the site of disease recurrence. Among patients with PSA 0.2-0.99 ng/ml, 23/49 (47%, p<0.0001) were positive, and 20/35 (57%, p<0.0005) were positive in the group of patients with PSA 1.00-1.99. When PSA values were further categorized into PSA <2 ng/ml and PSA ≥2 ng/ml, detection rates were 49% and 86% respectively (p <0.0001). The scans were positive in 65% of patients with Gleason score of <7, 62% with Gleason score of =7 and 68% with Gleason score >7 (p=0.745).

Conclusion: there was an increase in the detection rate with an increase in the PSA. Gleason score was not a predictor of a positive ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET/CT scan. ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT should be prioritized in patients with biochemical recurrence with PSA levels >0.2 ng/ml.