This study aimed to compare the efficacy of [18F]F-choline PET/CT with conventional imaging for staging and managing intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). The primary objective was to assess the ability of PET/CT with [18F]F-choline to identify lymph node and systemic involvement during initial staging. Secondary objectives included evaluating the impact of [18F]F-choline PET/CT on unnecessary local treatments and assessing the safety of [18F]F-choline agents. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze recurrence-free survival and overall survival 5 y after randomization. Methods: A prospective controlled, open, randomized multicenter phase III trial involving 7 Italian centers was conducted. Eligible patients with intermediate- to high-risk PCa were randomized in a 1:1 ratio. Two groups were formed: one undergoing conventional imaging (abdominopelvic contrast-enhanced CT and bone scanning) and the other receiving conventional imaging plus [18F]F-choline PET/CT. The study was terminated prematurely; however, all the endpoints were thoroughly analyzed and enriched. Results: Between February 2016 and December 2020, 256 patients were randomly assigned. In total, 236 patients (117 in the control arm and 119 in the experimental arm) were considered for the final assessment. In the experimental arm, the sensitivity for lymph node metastases, determined by final pathology and serial prostate-specific antigen evaluations, was higher than in the control arm (77.78% vs. 28.57% and 65.62% vs. 17.65%, respectively). The [18F]F-choline was tolerated well. The use of [18F]F-choline PET/CT resulted in an approximately 8% reduction in unnecessary extended lymphadenectomy compared with contrast-enhanced CT. Additionally, [18F]F-choline PET/CT had a marginal impact on 5-y overall survival, contributing to a 4% increase in survival rates. Conclusion: In the initial staging of PCa, [18F]F-choline PET/CT exhibited diagnostic performance superior to that of conventional imaging for detecting metastases. [18F]F-choline PET/CT reduced the rate of unnecessary extensive lymphadenectomy by up to 8%. These findings support the consideration of discontinuing conventional imaging for staging PCa.
Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine. 2024 Jun 06 [Epub ahead of print]
Laura Evangelista, Fabio Zattoni, Marta Burei, Daniele Bertin, Eugenio Borsatti, Tanja Baresic, Mohsen Farsad, Emanuela Trenti, Mirco Bartolomei, Stefano Panareo, Luca Urso, Giuseppe Trifirò, Elisabetta Brugola, Franca Chierichetti, Davide Donner, Lucia Setti, Mauro Gallan, Paola Del Bianco, Giovanna Magni, Gian Luca De Salvo, Giacomo Novara, Study Group Coinvestigators
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy; ., Urology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, Urologic Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy., Nuclear Medicine Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Padua, Italy., Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Radiation Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Central Hospital of Bolzano, Bozen, Italy., Department of Urology, Central Hospital of Bolzano, Bozen, Italy., Nuclear Medicine Unit, University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy., Nuclear Medicine Unit, ICS Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, Pavia, Italy., Nuclear Medicine Unit, APSS della Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy., Nuclear Medicine Unit, Humanitas Gavazzeni, Bergamo, Italy., Nuclear Medicine Unit, Dell'Angelo Hospital, Mestre-Venezia, Italy; and., Clinical Research Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Padua, Italy.