Introduction: Growing interest in PSMA imaging using [68Ga]- or [18F]-labelled ligands and PSMA-based radioligand therapy (RLT) of prostate cancer (PCa) prompted us to survey the global community on their experiences and expectations. Materials and Methods: A web-based survey was composed to interrogate areas specific to PET imaging, the clinical value chain, and RLT applications. International responses were collected in early 2022. In total, over 300 valid responses were received and evaluated. Results: Most responses (83%) were given by nuclear medicine specialists with extensive experience in PET. At 22% of sites, PCa ranked "top" in cancer-type specific PET indications with an average and median of 15% and 10% of all cases, respectively. The most frequently-used PSMA-PET tracers were [68Ga]PSMA (32%) and [18F]PSMA-1007 (31%). Users reported a steady growth in PSMA-PET and RLT over the past 5-yrs averaging 50% and 82%, respectively, with a further 100% median growth projected over the next 5-yrs. Of note, more respondents indicated cognizance of personalized dosimetry than actually used it routinely. The most commonly identified barriers to future growth in PCa theranostics were radiopharmaceutical supply, reimbursement, staff availability and buy-in of medical oncologists. Conclusion: Despite enthusiasm, this survey indicates variable adoption of PSMA-imaging and RLT globally. Several challenges need to be addressed by the medical community, authorities and patient advocacy groups in integrate PSMA-targeted theranostics into personalized medicine.
Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine. 2022 Aug 11 [Epub ahead of print]
Thomas Beyer, Johannes Czernin, Lutz S Freudenberg, Frederik Giesel, Marcus Hacker, Rodney J Hicks, Bernd Krause
QIMP Team, Centre Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University Vienna., Dept of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA., ZRN Rheinland., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University and University Hospital Duesseldorf., Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University Vienna., The Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, the University of Melbourne, Australia., Rostock University Medical Centre, Department of Nuclear Medicine.