The appropriateness of PSMA PET/CT in newly diagnosed unfavorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients—towards a tumor volume-based risk stratification

• Published in: Prostate cancer and prostatic diseases
• Main Authors: Hagens, Marinus J., Luining, Wietske I., Boevé, Liselotte M. S., Knol, Remco J. J., Roeleveld, Ton A., Srbljin, Sandra, Weltings, Saskia, Koppes, Jose C. C., Oprea-Lager, Daniela E., Vis, André N., van Leeuwen, Pim J., van der Poel, Henk G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 23.09.2024
• ISSN: 1365-7852; 1476-5608; 1476-5608
• DOI: 10.1038/s41391-024-00899-9

This study reassesses the diagnostic value of PSMA PET/CT in unfavorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa) and validates the Prostate Cancer Network the Netherlands (PCNN) subclassification. Men subjected to PSMA PET/CT were analyzed, evaluating the incidence of metastatic disease and its correlation with PCNN subgroups. Metastatic disease was identified in 12.4% of patients. Higher PCNN subgroups correlated with increased metastatic potential; odds were significantly lower in low metastatic potential cases (OR: 0.19, 95% CI 0.06-0.62; p = 0.01). Our findings reaffirm PSMA PET/CT's diagnostic value in unfavorable intermediate-risk PCa and validate the PCNN subclassification, reducing scan burden by 48.1%.