Abstract
Background
Diagnosing the biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer (PCa) is a clinical challenge, and early detection of BCR can help patients receive optimal treatment. We conducted a meta-analysis to define the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT using 18F-labeled choline, fluciclovine, and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in patients with BCR.
Methods
Multiple databases were searched until March 30, 2021. We included studies investigating the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-choline, 18F-fluciclovine, and 18F-PSMA PET/CT in patients with BCR. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and detection rate of 18F-labeled tracers were calculated with a random-effects model.
Results
A total of 46 studies met the included criteria; 17, 16, and 13 studies focused on 18F-choline, fluciclovine, and PSMA, respectively. The pooled sensitivities of 18F-choline and 18F-fluciclovine were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.85–0.98) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.65–0.897), and the specificities were 0.91 (95% CI, 0.73–0.97) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.50–0.79), respectively. The pooled detection rates of 18F-labeled choline, fluciclovine and PSMA were 66, 74, and 83%, respectively. Moreover, the detection rates of 18F-labeled choline, fluciclovine, and PSMA were 35, 23, and 58% for a PSA level less than 0.5 ng/ml; 41, 46, and 75% for a PSA level of 0.5–0.99 ng/ml; 62, 57, and 86% for a PSA level of 1.0–1.99 ng/ml; 80, 92, and 94% for a PSA level more than 2.0 ng/ml.
Conclusion
These three 18F-labeled tracers are promising for detecting BCR in prostate cancer patients, with 18F-choline showing superior diagnostic accuracy. In addition, the much higher detection rates of 18F-PSMA showed its superiority over other tracers, particularly in low PSA levels.
Systematic Review Registration
PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020212531.
Keywords: PET/CT, 18F, choline, fluciclovine, prostate-specific membrane antigen, prostate cancer
Introduction
Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancy in men worldwide and is also the fifth major cause of cancer-related death in men. It is estimated that over 300,000 PCa-related deaths occur in 2018 (1). In addition to its high morbidity and mortality, the recurrence and metastasis of prostate cancer are also troublesome in clinical practice (2, 3).
It is challenging to detect initial recurrence and metastasis after prior treatment because of few obvious characteristics on early recurrent or metastatic lesions. PCa recurrence is usually considered when observing a rise in the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. This is regarded as biochemical recurrence (BCR) of PCa, and the definition of BCR is a serum PSA level over a threshold of 0.2 ng/ml twice after radical prostatectomy (RP) or an absolute increase in PSA level of 2 ng/ml over the lowest posttreatment PSA level after radiation therapy (RT) (4, 5).
The key issue for patients with BCR is the early and correct identification of recurrent or metastatic disease, which is essential for further devising treatment strategies since treatment varies based on the presence of local recurrence, regional lymph node and distant viscera or bone metastasis (6). Conventional imaging modalities consisting of CT, bone scan, and MRI have been used for patients with advanced PCa, but their roles in detecting minimal or occult lesions are limited (7, 8). These conventional imaging modalities also have low sensitivity and specificity in detecting patients with BCR, especially those with a low PSA level. According to the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines, next-generation imaging (NGI) such as PET/CT, PET/MRI, and whole-body MRI is recommended for use in patients with rising PSA after prior treatment when conventional imaging findings are negative (9). Radioactive tracers such as choline and fluciclovine have been used for prostate cancer staging, restaging, and treatment response evaluation. Meanwhile, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a new radiopharmaceutical that binds to prostate cancer-specific target, has demonstrated outstanding detection rate for recurrent or metastatic lesions among patients with BCR.
Choline is an essential element of phospholipids in the cellular wall, and the increased uptake of choline means increased metabolism of the cell membrane components of malignant tumors (10). 11C-choline was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012, but its short half-life limits its widespread use in PET/CT centers without onsite cyclotrons. Later, 18F-labeled choline was developed, and its longer half-life has solidified 18F-choline PET/CT as a significant imaging modality in patients with suspected PCa recurrence (11, 12). 18F-Fluciclovine (anti-1-amino-3-18F-fluorocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid, 18F-FACBC), as a synthetic amino acid that is upregulated in PCa, is an option for molecular imaging in patients with BCR, which was approved by the FDA in 2016 (13, 14). The main advantage of 18F-fluciclovine is its low urinary excretion, which allows for better detection and localization of PCa recurrence in patients with rising PSA level (15). PSMA is a type 2 transmembrane protein that is more highly expressed in the prostate cancer cell membrane than in normal tissues (16–18). Therefore, PSMA has become a promising target for imaging prostate cancer (19). 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT has been proven to improve the detection of metastatic disease and the monitoring of treatment effects in patients with PCa (20). Most recently, 68Ga-PSMA-11, as the first PSMA PET agent, has been approved by the FDA. 18F-labeled PSMA has also begun to be used in clinical practice, and its long half-life and high resolution in PET/CT images have further increased the detection rate of PSMA-targeted imaging in subtle or occult metastases (21, 22). Moreover, 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT can differentiate local recurrence from physical uptake in the urinary bladder or ureter due to non-urinary clearance (23, 24).
Some previous studies have compared the diagnostic roles of 11C-choline, 18F-fluciclovine, and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in patients with BCR, showing that 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT has a superior detection rate (25). Even so, there have been some clinical challenges existing in 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT due to certain shortcomings including its short half-life, non-ideal energies and the limited availability of 68Ga. Compared with 68Ga and 11C, 18F, as a longer half-life nuclide, has many advantages such centralized production in a cyclotron facility and more favorable positron energies for imaging, thereby motivating the development of 18F-labeled analogs. Currently, growing clinical experience has revealed the high diagnostic accuracy of some 18F-labeled tracers in PCa patients with BCR. However, the effectiveness of 18F-labeled choline, fluciclovine, and PSMA remains unclear because of limited number of studies. Herein, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis to review and compare the diagnostic value of 18F-labeled choline, fluciclovine, and PSMA PET/CT imaging for detecting BCR in patients with PCa, in order to provide better creditability for clinical practice.
Methods
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was used for our study (26). Our review has registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD 42020198861).
Search Strategy
A literature research was conducted with scientific databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, until March 30, 2021. A search algorithm was developed based on a combination of keywords (“choline” OR “fluciclovine” OR “FACBC” OR “PSMA” OR “DCFPyL” OR “DCFBC” OR “1007”) AND (“prostate cancer” OR “prostate neoplasm”) AND (“biochemical recurrence” OR “biochemical failure”) AND (“PET/CT” OR “positron emission tomography/computed tomography”) AND (“18F” OR “fluorine”).
Two authors independently screened and evaluated these studies. The reference lists of all relevant studies were further checked to find more suitable studies. A third author was responsible for disagreement and solved the controversy between two authors through discussion.
Selection of Studies
Studies using 18F-labeled tracers such as 18F-choline, 18F-fluciclovine, and 18F-PSMA were evaluated. Studies were included according to the following criteria: (a) sample size >10; (b) patients who had evidence of BCR underwent PET/CT; (c) studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-labeled tracers in prostate cancer patients with BCR; (d) histological results, imaging, or clinical follow-up as a reference standard. Studies on other tracers were not included. Abstracts, reviews, and case reports were also not included. If the studies included duplicate patients, we reviewed and included the study with the largest sample or the most recent study performed. The included studies were limited to those published in English.
Quality Assessment
The quality of included studies was critically assessed by two independent authors according to the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. This tool comprises four domains (patient selection, index test, reference standard, and flow and timing), and each domain was used to assess the risk of bias. Next, applicability was also considered according to patient selection, the index test, and the reference standard.
Data Extraction
Two authors collected various parameters and outcomes from each eligible study as follows: author, country, publication year, study design, number of patients, age, pre-PET PSA level, reference criteria, scanner model, ligands, and injection dose and the detection rate as well as true positive (TP), false positive (FP), false negative (FN), and true negative (TN) PET/CT with different tracers in patients with BCR. All discrepancies were resolved by consensus and ultimately based on the decision of the third author.
Statistical Analysis
For studies reporting the diagnostic performance of 18F-PSMA, 18F-choline, and 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT in patients with BCR, 2 × 2 table was used to calculate TP, FP, TN, and FN. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated by a random-effects model. We developed a hierarchical summary receiver operating curve and calculated the area under the curve. We presented forest plots with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the sensitivity and specificity of each study. In addition, the detection rates of PET tracers were extracted and pooled using a random-effects model. If possible, subgroup analysis was considered based on different PSA serum values.
Heterogeneity within studies was evaluated using Cochran’s Q test and the I² statistic (27). An I² value greater than 50% was indicative of substantial heterogeneity. The funnel plot test and Egger’s test were used to assess the publication bias. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata 15.0 and RevMan 5.3. P-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant (28).
Results
The flow chart demonstrates an overview of the search and selection process ( Figure 1 ). The initial search yielded 480 studies, of which 95 were duplicates. Subsequently, after reviewing the titles and abstracts, we excluded 238 studies for the following reasons: 170 studies were case reports, reviews, and academic meeting abstracts, 11 were basic studies, five applications in other diseases, and 52 studies used different radiotracers and imaging modalities. Of the remaining studies, 75 studies were not relevant to our aims, and most of them investigated the impact of novel PET/CT tracers in treatment management for patients with PCa or focused on evaluating metastatic disease. In addition, 26 studies did not provide sufficient information and were excluded. Thus, only 46 studies were finally included. Of these, 17 studies focused on the role of 18F-choline PET/CT in prostate cancer patients with BCR (29–45). The numbers of included studies regarding 18F-fluciclovine and 18F-PSMA PET/CT were 16 and 13, respectively (46–74). Tables 1 – 3 outline the characteristics of each eligible study.
Table 1.
Author | Publication Year | Country | Design | Patients | Mean age/Range | PSA (ng/mL) | Scancer Modality | Ligand | Mean dose | Reference standard |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pelosi | 2008 | Italy | R | 56 | 67.9 ± 7 | 4.59 ± 7.87 | Discovery ST unit, GE | 18F-choline | 185–259 MBq | Multiple |
Kwee | 2012 | US | P | 50 | 69.0 ± 8.9 | 3.2 (0.2–18.2) | Philips Gemini TF-64 | 18F-fluorocholine | 2.6 MBq/kg | Multiple |
Panebianco | 2012 | Italy | P | 84 | 56–72 | 1.63 | Discovery ST, GE | 18F-choline | 185-259 MBq | Multiple |
Schillaci | 2012 | Italy | P | 49 | 70. 9 ± 7 | 4.13 ± 4.56 | Discovery ST, GE | 18F-choline | 370 MBq | Biopsy |
Detti | 2013 | Italy | R | 170 | —— | 3.5 ± 8.8 | PET/CT Philips TOF | 18F-fluorocholine | 3.7 MBq/kg | Follow-up |
Marzola | 2013 | Italy | R | 233 | 69.4 ± 6.5 | 7.4 ± 13.6 | Discovery STE | 18F-fluorocholine | 3 MBq/kg | |
Piccardo | 2014 | Italy | P | 21 | 77.2 ± 5.1 | 5.8 ± 3.4 | Discovery ST, GE | 18F-choline | 3MBq/kg | Multiple |
Morigi | 2015 | Australia | P | 38 | 68(54–81) | 1.72 ± 2.54 | Philips Ingenuity TF 64 | 18F-fluorocholine | 3.5 MBq/kg | Biopsy |
Rodado-Marina | 2015 | Spain | R | 233 | 68 ± 7.1 | 5.3 ± 8.7 | GE and Siemens equipments | 18F-fluorocholine | 4 MBq/kg | Multiple |
Cimitan | 2015 | Italy | R | 1,000 | 69.68 ± 7.67 | 3.30 | GE Discovery LS; Siemens Biograph 16 HT or Biograph mCT; GE Discovery ST8, | 18F-choline | 3.0–3.5 MBq/kg | Multiple |
Simone | 2015 | Italy | P | 146 | 68 | 0.6 (0.43–0.76) | Siemens Biograph Hi-Rez 16; | 18F-choline | 4 MBq/kg | Multiple |
Emmett | 2018 | Australia | P | 91 | 64 (59–69) | 0.42 (0.29–0.93) | —— | 18F-choline | 3.6 MBq/kg | Multiple |
Giovacchini | 2019 | Italy | R | 192 | 73.2 ± 6.6 | 9.53 ± 16.70 | GE Discovery 710 | 18F-fluorocholine | 3.7 MBq/kg | Multiple |
Witkowska-Patena | 2019 | Poland | P | 40 | 68.6 ± 6.5 | 0.75 ± 0.6 | GE Discovery 710 | 18F-fluorocholine | 248 ± 35 MBq | Multiple |
Sánchez | 2020 | Spain | P | 108 | 69 ± 6.7 | 4.9 ± 5.2 | Siemens Biograph mCT | 18F-choline | 370 MBq | Multiple |
Zattoni | 2020 | Italy | R | 2,798 | 72 (66.29–77.0) | 2.0 (0.1–3.0) | —— | 18F-choline | 2.5-3.7 MBq/kg | |
de Leiris | 2020 | France | R | 115 | 73.2 (56–89) | 9.4 (7.1–18.4) | GE Discovery 690 | 18F-choline | 3.7 MBq/kg | Multiple |
A multiple reference standards including biopsy, other imaging modalities and follow-up.
Table 3.
Author | Publication Year | Country | Design | Patients | Mean age/year | PSA (ng/ml) | Scancer Modality | Tracer | Mean dose | Reference standard |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rahbar | 2018 | Germany | R | 100 | 68.75 ± 7.6 | 3.3 6 ± 6.11 | Siemens Healthcare | 18F-PSMA-1007 | 4 MBq/kg | —— |
Eiber | 2018 | Germany | R | 261 | 72 (49–88) | 0.961 (0.01–400.0) | Siemens Biograph mCT | 18F‐rhPSMA‐7 | 333 ± 44 MBq | —— |
Giesel | 2018 | Germany | R | 251 | 70 (48–86) | 1.2 (0.2–228) | Siemens Biograph mCT | 18F-PSMA-1007 | 301 ± 46 MBq | —— |
Rousseau | 2018 | Canada | P | 130 | 69.1 ± 6.5 | 5.20 ± 6.50 | GE Discovery PET/CT 600 or 690 | 18F-DCFPyL | 369.2 ± 47.2 MBq | —— |
Wondergem | 2019 | Netherlands | R | 248 | 71 (67–75) | Philips Ingenuity TF, Siemens Biograph 16 | 18F-DCFPyL | 311 MBq | —— | |
Mena | 2019 | USA | P | 90 | 66 (50–81) | 2.5 ± 5.9 | GE Discovery MI | 18F-DCFPyL | 299.9 ± 15.5 MBq | —— |
Song | 2019 | USA | P | 72 | 71.5 ± 7.2 | 3.0 (0.23-698.4) | GE Discovery MI | 18F-DCFPyL | 338.8 ± 25.3 MBq | —— |
Witkowska-Patena | 2019 | Poland | P | 40 | 68.6 ± 6.5 | 0.75 ± 0.6 | GE Discovery 710, | 18F-PSMA-1007 | 295.5 ± 14.1 MBq | —— |
Rowe | 2020 | USA | P | 31 | 63 (45–74) | 0.4 (0.2–28.3) | GE Discovery RX 64 or Biograph mCT 128 | 18F-DCFPyL | <333 MBq | —— |
Chaussé | 2020 | Canada | R | 93 | 70.4(51-87) | 2.27 (0.07–51.09) | GE Discovery ST | 18F-DCFPyL | 333 ± 37 MBq | Multiple |
Dietlein | 2021 | Germany | R | 70 | 70.1 ± 5.5 | 18F-JK-PSMA-7 | 348 ± 55 MBq | —— | ||
Koschel | 2021 | Australia | P | 98 | 68.0 (66.0–71.0) | 0.32 (0.28–0.36) | GE Discovery 710 | 18F-DCFPyL | 250 ± 50 MBq | Imaging |
Perry | 2021 | New Zealand | R | 222 | 71 (49–89) | 0.51 (0.08–58.9) | GE Discovery 690, 710 | 18F-DCFPyL | 250 ± 50 MBq | —— |
A multiple reference standards including biopsy, other imaging modalities and follow-up.
Table 2.
Author | Publication Year | Country | Design | Patients | Mean age/Range | PSA (ng/mL) | Scancer Modality | Ligand | Mean dose | Reference standard |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schuster | 2011 | US | P | 50 | 68.3 ± 8.1 | 6.62 ± 7.63 | Discovery DLS, GE | 18F-fluciclovine | 199.8–484.7 MBq | Multiple |
Kairemo | 2014 | Finland | R | 26 | 68.1 ± 5.8 | 7.9 ± 14.6 | Siemens Biograph | 18F-fluciclovine | 328 ± 56.8 MBq | Multiple |
Nanni | 2016 | Italy | P | 89 | 69 | 6.99 | Discovery STE, GE | 18F-fluciclovine | 370 MBq | Follow-up |
Odewole | 2016 | USA | R | 53 | 67.57± 8.03 | 7.2 ± 8.3 | GE Discovery DLS or 690 | 18F-fluciclovine | 358 ± 52.9MBq | Follow-up |
Bach-Gansmo | 2017 | Norway, Italy, UK | R | 143 | 67 | 5.43 | —— | 18F-fluciclovine | 310 MBq | Follow-up |
Miller | 2017 | USA | R | 110 | 67.4 ± 7.37 | 5.87 ± 7.65 | GE Discovery DLS or 690 | 18F-fluciclovine | 370 MBq | Multiple |
Akin-Akintayo | 2018 | USA | P | 24 | 70.8 ± 5.7 | 8.5 ± 6.1 | GE Discovery 690 | 18F-fluciclovine | 370 ± 13 MBq | Biopsy |
Jambor | 2018 | Finland | P | 32 | 65 (49–76) | 12 (4.1–35) | GE Discovery 690 | 18F-fluciclovine | 369 ± 10 MBq | Biopsy |
Andriole | 2019 | US | P | 213 | 66.4 ± 7.75 | 4.24 ± 10.22 | —— | 18F-fluciclovine | 370 ± 20% MBq | Multiple |
Calais | 2019 | US | P | 50 | 68 (64–74) | 0·48 (0·38–0·83) | Siemens Biograph64 and GE Discovery | 18F-fluciclovine | 381 MBq | Multiple |
England | 2019 | US | R | 28 | 67.1 (53–77) | 0.44(0.1–1) | Siemens Biograph | 18F-fluciclovine | 370 MBq | Follow-up |
Savir-Baruch | 2019 | US | R | 152 | 68.73 ± 7.92 | 2.06 (0.006–120) | Philips Ingenuity TF PET/CT | 18F-fluciclovine | 9.97 ± 1.18mci | —— |
Teyateeti | 2020 | US | R | 94 | 65.7 (42.5–80.3) | GE Discovery 710, MI and Siemens Biograph 64 | 18F-fluciclovine | 370 MBq | Multiple | |
Garza | 2021 | US | R | 78 | 68.7 (48–87) | 0.72(<0.05–1.99) | —— | 18F-fluciclovine | —— | Imaging |
Michael | 2021 | US | R | 103 | 69.79 ± 7.88 | 5.77 ± 9.98 | Siemens Biograph | 18F-fluciclovine | 10 mci | Imaging |
Nakamoto | 2021 | US | R | 165 | 71.1 ± 8.8 | 3.1 (1.0–9.6) | GE Discovery 600, 690, or MI | 18F-fluciclovine | 389 ± 59 MBq | Multiple |
A multiple reference standards including biopsy, other imaging modalities and follow-up.
Quality Assessment
Figures 2A–C show the results of the quality assessment of each eligible study for 18F-choline, 18F-fluciclovine, and 18F-PSMA, respectively. Patient selection was not considered the source of bias because all studies had qualified patient selection criteria. For the index test and reference standard, some studies did not adopt the blinding method when interpreting the positive scan of the PET/CT findings, and we rated these studies as high or unclear levels regarding the risk of bias and applicability concern. Similarly, unclear or high levels were displayed on the applicability concern of flow and timing because of the different follow-up times and multiple reference standards.
Diagnostic Performance of 18F-Choline and 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT
Seventeen studies reported the diagnostic performance of 18F-choline, and the summary sensitivity and specificity of 18F-choline PET/CT in patients with BCR were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.85–0.96) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.73–0.97), respectively ( Figure 3 ). The summary sensitivity and specificity drawn from studies on 18F-fluciclovine were 0.80 (95% CI, 0.65–0.89) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.50–0.79), respectively ( Figure 4 ). However, the summary sensitivity and specificity were not constructed for 18F-PSMA PET/CT imaging because these studies mostly focused on the detection rate in patients with BCR. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves of 18F-choline and 18F-fluciclovine were demonstrated in Figures 5A, B .
Detection Rate of 18F-Choline, 18F-Fluciclovine, and 18F-PSMA PET/CT
The pooled detection rate of 18F-choline PET/CT was 66%, lower than 74% of 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT. In addition, the pooled detection rate of 18F-PSMA PET/CT was 83% ( Figure 6 ). Meanwhile, the detection rates of 18F-labeled choline, fluciclovine, and PSMA were 35, 23, and 58% for a PSA level less than 0.5 ng/ml ( Figure 7 ); 41, 46, and 75% for a PSA level of 0.5–0.99 ng/ml ( Figure 8 ); 62, 57, and 86% for a PSA level of 1.0–1.99 ng/ml ( Figure 9 ); 80, 92, and 94% for a PSA level more than 2.0 ng/ml ( Figure 10 ).
Discussion
Our meta-analysis included studies investigating the diagnostic roles of three novel 18F-labeled tracers applied in prostate cancer patients with BCR. From our study, the summary sensitivity and specificity of 18F-choline and 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT were 0.93 and 0.91, and 0.80 and 0.66, respectively. For the detection rate, the pooled detection rates of 18F-labeled choline, fluciclovine, and PSMA were 66, 74, and 83%, respectively. Meanwhile, we observed a higher detection rate of biochemically recurrent PCa with 18F-PSMA compared with choline and fluciclovine PET/CT for the different PSA level subgroups.
Multiple PET/CT radiotracers have been developed and experimented in recent years, motivating the wide use of PET/CT or PET/MRI in patients with PCa for staging, restaging, and response evaluation (75, 76). 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT showed a superior advantage over 11C-choline PET/CT in patients with BCR and further aid guiding decision-making in regard to patients’ treatment strategy (48, 77). In addition, PSMA PET/CT has shown superior diagnostic accuracy for recurrence and metastases of prostate cancer than fluciclovine and choline. A meta-analysis defined the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT imaging using 11C-choline, 18F-fluciclovine, or 68Ga-PSMA, showing that 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT has a nearly equal sensitivity but the highest specificity among these tracers for PET/CT imaging in detecting biochemically recurrent PCa (25).
In contrast, our meta-analysis focused on only long-half radionuclides as 18F-labeled tracers and summarized the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-labeled choline, fluciclovine, and PSMA in detecting patients with BCR. Our study revealed that 18F-PSMA had the highest detection rate at different PSA levels, and the detection rate was related to the PSA level. These results were consistent with another meta-analysis that compared the detection rate of biochemically recurrent PCa between PSMA-targeted radiotracers and 18F-fluciclovine, finding that PSMA-targeted radiotracers demonstrate a greater detection rate than 18F-fluciclovine (78). A study compared prospectively paired 18F-fluciclovine and PSMA PET/CT scans for localizing recurrence of PCa after prostatectomy in patients with a PSA level <2.0 ng/ml (55). They found that PSMA PET/CT showed higher detection rates and should be the tracer choice when PET/CT imaging is considered for patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy with low PSA concentrations (≤2.0 ng/ml). The same conclusion was drawn from another prospective study paired that compared 18F-PSMA and 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT in patients with BCR (42). The advantage of PSMA-targeted PET/CT imaging could be attributed to the high expression of PSMA in PCa and its metastases.
In late 2020, 68Ga-PSMA-11 became the first PSMA PET tracer to be approved by the FDA, which may facilitate widespread adaptation. Despite this, there also have been some limitations related to 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT because of the short half-life, non-ideal energies, and limited availability of 68Ga, limiting its clinical application in detecting occult or metastatic lesions in the prostate bed (62, 79). However, 18F-PSMA analogs seemed to be more favorable due to their longer half-life and a higher physical spatial resolution (23), and 18F-PSMA-1007, as a second-generation 18F-labeled PSMA tracer, demonstrated high labeling yields, better tumor uptake, and hepatobiliary excretion, making it an ideal PSMA-target tracer for diagnostic imaging in patients with BCR (21, 23). Our meta-analysis found the pooled detection rate with 18F-PSMA of 58% for a PSA level of less than 0.5 ng/ml, 75% for a PSA level of 0.5 to 0.99 ng/ml, and 86% for a PSA level of 1.0 to 1.99 ng/ml. These detection rates are equal or higher than those in recent studies involving 68Ga PSMA PET/CT (80, 81).
Compared with FDA approval of 68Ga-PSMA-11 in late 2020, 11C-choline and 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT have one temporary advantage as they have been granted FDA approval early. They were more accessible and used in the US and Europe. Many studies compared the diagnostic utility of 18F-fluciclovine with 11C-choline PET/CT imaging, showing a better performance in terms of lesion detection rate (48, 82). A recent meta-analysis demonstrated that 18F-fluciclovine had the similar sensitivity and detection rate compared with 11C-choline, but lower specificity than 11C-choline (83). Unlike the short physical half-life of 11C-choline, the radiofluorine of 18F-choline provides a long physical half-life (109.8 min), allowing for centralized manufacture and distribution. These intrinsic advantages of 18F labeling has made 18F-choline PET/CT valuable in staging patients with PCa and detecting recurrently PCa metastases after initial treatment (33, 84). There were limited studies in comparing directly to determine which imaging modality has a better diagnostic efficiency between 18F-choline and 18F-fluciclovine. In our meta-analysis, 18F-choline had a higher sensitivity and specificity than 18F-fluciclovine through assessing the summary sensitivity and specificity. 18F-choline also has better detection rates than 18F-fluciclovine at PSA levels under 0.5 ng/ml and 1.0–1.99 ng/ml, but the pooled detection rate of 18F-fluciclovine was higher than that of 18F-choline in biochemically recurrent PCa. This difference could be interpreted by different biological processes between amino acid transport and choline expression.
Limitations
There were several limitations to this study that should be mentioned. First, we only evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of both 18F-choline and 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT in patients with BCR, and the pooled sensitivity and specificity for 18F-PSMA PET/CT were not feasible because of insufficient published data. Second, there were significant heterogeneities among institutions, PET/CT scanners, radiotracers, and prior treatment of patients, which increased the risk of bias and led to significant heterogeneity among 18F-choline, 18F-fluciclovine and 18F-PSMA PET/CT. Third, most of the included studies were retrospective analyses, had small sample sizes, had limited reference standards, and lacked prospective, large sample, and interagent comparison studies. Fourth, there was publication bias according to Egger’s test regarding the included studies of 18F-choline, 18F-flocilovine, and 18F-PSMA PET/CT, limiting the interpretation of the data to some degree.
Conclusion
PET/CT imaging with 18F-choline, 18F-fluciclovine, and 18F-PSMA is promising in detecting prostate cancer patients with BCR. 18F-PSMA PET/CT demonstrated a significantly higher detection rate over 18F-choline and 18F-fluciclovine for different PSA levels, particularly in PSA level less than 2.0 ng/ml.
Data Availability Statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Author Contributions
Conceived and designed the experiments: RW, GS, and RT. Performed the experiments: GS, RW, and MH. Analyzed the data: RW, GS, and RT. Analyzed tools: GS and MH. Wrote the paper: RW and RT. Provided critical input into the design and drafting of the manuscript: RW, GS, and RT. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Funding
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81971653).
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
- 1. Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global Cancer Statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin (2018) 68:394–424. 10.3322/caac.21492 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2. Hull GW, Rabbani F, Abbas F, Wheeler TM, Kattan MW, Scardino PT. Cancer Control With Radical Prostatectomy Alone in 1,000 Consecutive Patients. J Urol (2002) 167:528–34. 10.1097/00005392-200202000-00018 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3. Freedland SJ, Humphreys EB, Mangold LA, Eisenberger M, Dorey FJ, Walsh PC, et al. Risk of Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality Following Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy. JAMA (2005) 294:433–9. 10.1001/jama.294.4.433 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4. Kuban DA, Levy LB, Potters L, Beyer DC, Blasko JC, Moran BJ, et al. Comparison of Biochemical Failure Definitions for Permanent Prostate Brachytherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys (2006) 65:1487–93. 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.03.027 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5. Stephenson AJ, Scardino PT, Kattan MW, Pisansky TM, Slawin KM, Klein EA, et al. Predicting the Outcome of Salvage Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy. J Clin Oncol (2007) 25:2035–41. 10.1200/JCO.2006.08.9607 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6. Fanti S, Minozzi S, Antoch G, Banks I, Briganti A, Carrio I, et al. Consensus on Molecular Imaging and Theranostics in Prostate Cancer. Lancet Oncol (2018) 19:e696–708. 10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30604-1 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7. Hovels AM, Heesakkers RAM, Adang EM, Jager GJ, Strum S, Hoogeveen YL, et al. The Diagnostic Accuracy of CT and MRI in the Staging of Pelvic Lymph Nodes in Patients With Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Clin Radiol (2008) 63:387–95. 10.1016/j.crad.2007.05.022 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8. Filson CP, Natarajan S, Margolis DJ, Huang J, Lieu P, Dorey FJ, et al. Prostate Cancer Detection With Magnetic Resonance-Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy: The Role of Systematic and Targeted Biopsies. Cancer (2016) 122:884–92. 10.1002/cncr.29874 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9. Trabulsi EJ, Rumble RB, Jadvar H, Hope T, Pomper M, Turkbey B, et al. Optimum Imaging Strategies for Advanced Prostate Cancer: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol (2020) 38:1963–96. 10.1200/JCO.19.02757 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10. Zeisel SH. Dietary Choline: Biochemistry, Physiology, and Pharmacology. Annu Rev Nutr (1981) 1:95–121. 10.1146/annurev.nu.01.070181.000523 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 11. Evangelista L, Zattoni F, Guttilla A, Saladini G, Zattoni F, Colletti PM, et al. Choline PET or PET/CT and Biochemical Relapse of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Nucl Med (2013) 38:305–14. 10.1097/RLU.0b013e3182867f3c [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12. Krause BJ, Souvatzoglou M, Treiber U. Imaging of Prostate Cancer With PET/CT and Radioactively Labeled Choline Derivates. Urol Oncol-Seminars Orig Investigations (2013) 31:427–35. 10.1016/j.urolonc.2010.08.008 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13. Oka S, Okudaira H, Yoshida Y, Schuster DM, Goodman MM, Shirakami Y. Transport Mechanisms of Trans-1-Amino-3-Fluoro[1-(14)C]Cyclobutanecarboxylic Acid in Prostate Cancer Cells. Nucl Med Biol (2012) 39:109–19. 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2011.06.008 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 14. Parent EE, Schuster DM. Update on (18)F-Fluciclovine PET for Prostate Cancer Imaging. J Nucl Med (2018) 59:733–9. 10.2967/jnumed.117.204032 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15. Bach-Gansmo T, Nanni C, Nieh PT, Zanoni L, Bogsrud TV, Sletten H, et al. Multisite Experience of the Safety, Detection Rate and Diagnostic Performance of Fluciclovine (F-18) Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography Imaging in the Staging of Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer. J Urol (2017) 197:676–82. 10.1016/j.juro.2016.09.117 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 16. Wright GL, Jr, Haley C, Beckett ML, Schellhammer PF. Expression of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen in Normal, Benign, and Malignant Prostate Tissues. Urol Oncol (1995) 1:18–28. 10.1016/1078-1439(95)00002-y [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17. Wright GL, Jr., Grob BM, Haley C, Grossman K, Newhall K, Petrylak D, et al. Upregulation of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen After Androgen-Deprivation Therapy. Urology (1996) 48:326–34. 10.1016/s0090-4295(96)00184-7 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 18. Perner S, Hofer MD, Kim R, Shah RB, Li H, Möller P, et al. Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Expression as a Predictor of Prostate Cancer Progression. Hum Pathol (2007) 38:696–701. 10.1016/j.humpath.2006.11.012 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 19. Eder M, Schafer M, Bauder-Wust U, Hull WE, Wangler C, Mier W, et al. 68Ga-Complex Lipophilicity and the Targeting Property of a Urea-Based PSMA Inhibitor for PET Imaging. Bioconjug Chem (2012) 23:688–97. 10.1021/bc200279b [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 20. Afshar-Oromieh A, Avtzi E, Giesel FL, Holland-Letz T, Linhart HG, Eder M, et al. The Diagnostic Value of PET/CT Imaging With the (68)Ga-Labelled PSMA Ligand HBED-CC in the Diagnosis of Recurrent Prostate Cancer. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2015) 42:197–209. 10.1007/s00259-014-2949-6 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 21. Rahbar KA-O, Weckesser M, Ahmadzadehfar H, Schäfers M, Stegger L, Bögemann M. Advantage of (18)F-PSMA-1007 Over (68)Ga-PSMA-11 PET Imaging for Differentiation of Local Recurrence vs. Urinary Tracer Excretion. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2018) 45:1076–7. 10.1007/s00259-018-3952-0 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 22. Treglia G, Annunziata S, Pizzuto DA, Giovanella L, Prior JO, Ceriani L. Detection Rate of (18)F-Labeled PSMA PET/CT in Biochemical Recurrent Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel) (2019) 11:710. 10.3390/cancers11050710 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 23. Giesel FL, Hadaschik B, Cardinale J, Radtke J, Vinsensia M, Lehnert W, et al. F-18 Labelled PSMA-1007: Biodistribution, Radiation Dosimetry and Histopathological Validation of Tumor Lesions in Prostate Cancer Patients. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2017) 44:678–88. 10.1007/s00259-016-3573-4 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 24. Rahbar KA-O, Afshar-Oromieh A, Bögemann M, Wagner S, Schäfers M, Stegger L, et al. (18)F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT at 60 and 120 Minutes in Patients With Prostate Cancer: Biodistribution, Tumour Detection and Activity Kinetics. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2018) 45:1329–34. 10.1007/s00259-018-3989-0 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 25. Sathianathen NJ, Butaney M, Konety BR. The Utility of PET-Based Imaging for Prostate Cancer Biochemical Recurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. World J Urol (2019) 37:1239–49. 10.1007/s00345-018-2403-7 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 26. Liberati A, Altman Dg Fau - Tetzlaff J, Tetzlaff J Fau - Mulrow C, Mulrow C Fau - Gøtzsche PC, Gøtzsche Pc Fau - Ioannidis JPA, Ioannidis Jp Fau - Clarke M, et al. The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration. J Clin Epidemiol (2009) 62:e1–34. 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.06.006 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 27. Higgins JP, Thompson SG. Quantifying Heterogeneity in a Meta-Analysis. Stat Med (2002) 21:1539–58. 10.1002/sim.1186 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 28. Moses LE, Shapiro D Fau - Littenberg B, Littenberg B. Combining Independent Studies of a Diagnostic Test Into a Summary ROC Curve: Data-Analytic Approaches and Some Additional Considerations. Stat Med (1993) 12:1293–316. 10.1002/sim.4780121403 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 29. Pelosi E, Arena V, Skanjeti A, Pirro V, Douroukas A, Pupi A, et al. Role of Whole-Body 18F-Choline PET/CT in Disease Detection in Patients With Biochemical Relapse After Radical Treatment for Prostate Cancer. Radiol Med (2008) 113:895–904. 10.1007/s11547-008-0263-8 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 30. Kwee SA, Coel MN, Lim J. DR–Detection of Recurrent Prostate Cancer With 18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT in Relation to PSA Level at the Time of Imaging. Ann Nucl Med (2012) 26:501–7. 10.1007/s12149-012-0601-8 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 31. Panebianco V, Sciarra A, Lisi D, Galati F, Buonocore V, Catalano C, et al. Prostate Cancer: 1HMRS-DCEMR at 3T Versus [(18)F]Choline PET/CT in the Detection of Local Prostate Cancer Recurrence in Men With Biochemical Progression After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy (RRP). Eur J Radiol (2012) 81:700–8. 10.1016/j.ejrad.2011.01.095 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 32. Schillaci O, Calabria F, Tavolozza M, Caracciolo CR, Finazzi Agro E, Miano R, et al. Influence of PSA, PSA Velocity and PSA Doubling Time on Contrast-Enhanced 18F-Choline PET/CT Detection Rate in Patients With Rising PSA After Radical Prostatectomy. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2012) 39:589–96. 10.1007/s00259-011-2030-7 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 33. Detti B, Scoccianti S, Franceschini D, Cipressi S, Cassani S, Villari D, et al. Predictive Factors of 18F -Choline PET/CT in 170 Patients With Increasing PSA After Primary Radical Treatment. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol (2013) 139:521–8. 10.1007/s00432-012-1354-4 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 34. Marzola MC, Chondrogiannis S, Ferretti A, Grassetto G, Rampin L, Massaro A, et al. DR–Role of 18F-Choline PET/CT in Biochemically Relapsed Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy: Correlation With PSA Doubling Time, and Metastatic Distribution. Clin Nucl Med (2013) 38:e26–32. 10.1097/RLU.0b013e318266cc38 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 35. Piccardo A, Paparo F, Piccazzo R, Naseri M, Ricci P, Marziano A, et al. Value of Fused 18F-Choline-PET/MRI to Evaluate Prostate Cancer Relapse in Patients Showing Biochemical Recurrence After EBRT: Preliminary Results. BioMed Res Int (2014) 2014:103718. 10.1155/2014/103718 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 36. Cimitan M, Evangelista L, Hodolič M, Mariani G, Baseric T, Bodanza V, et al. Gleason Score at Diagnosis Predicts the Rate of Detection of 18F-Choline PET/CT Performed When Biochemical Evidence Indicates Recurrence of Prostate Cancer: Experience With 1,000 Patients. J Nucl Med (2015) 56:209–15. 10.2967/jnumed.114.141887 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 37. Morigi JJ, Stricker PD, van Leeuwen PJ, Tang R, Ho B, Quoc N, et al. DR–Prospective Comparison of F-18-Fluoromethylcholine Versus Ga-68-PSMA PET/CT in Prostate Cancer Patients Who Have Rising PSA After Curative Treatment and are Being Considered for Targeted Therapy. J Nucl Med (2015) 56:1185–90. 10.2967/jnumed.115.160382 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 38. Rodado-Marina S, Coronado-Poggio M, García-Vicente AM, García-Garzón JR, Alonso-Farto JC, de la Jara AC, et al. Clinical Utility of (18)F-Fluorocholine Positron-Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) in Biochemical Relapse of Prostate Cancer After Radical Treatment: Results of a Multicentre Study. BJU Int (2015) 115:874–83. 10.1111/bju.12953 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 39. Simone G, Di Pierro GB, Papalia R, Sciuto R, Rea S, Ferriero M, et al. Significant Increase in Detection of Prostate Cancer Recurrence Following Radical Prostatectomy With an Early Imaging Acquisition Protocol With 18F-Fluorocholine Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography. World J Urol (2015) 33:1511–8. 10.1007/s00345-015-1481-z [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 40. Emmett L, Metser U, Bauman G, Hicks RJ, Weickhardt A, Davis ID, et al. Prospective, Multisite, International Comparison of F-18-Fluoromethylcholine PET/CT and Ga-68-HBED-CC PSMA-11 PET/CT in Men With High-Risk Features and Biochemical Failure After Radical Prostatectomy: Clinical Performance and Patient Outcomes. J Nucl Med (2019) 60:794–800. 10.2967/jnumed.118.220103 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 41. Giovacchini G, Giovannini E, Borsò E, Lazzeri P, Riondato M, Leoncini R, et al. Sensitivity of Fluorine-18-Fluoromethylcholine PET/CT to Prostate-Specific Antigen Over Different Plasma Levels: A Retrospective Study in a Cohort of 192 Patients With Prostate Cancer. Nucl Med Commun (2019) 40:258–63. 10.1097/mnm.0000000000000959 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 42. Witkowska-Patena E, Giżewska A, Dziuk M, Miśko J, Budzyńska A, Walęcka-Mazur A. Head-to-Head Comparison of 18F-Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-1007 and 18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT in Biochemically Relapsed Prostate Cancer. Clin Nucl Med (2019) 44:e629–e33. 10.1097/rlu.0000000000002794 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 43. de Leiris N, Leenhardt J, Boussat B, Montemagno C, Seiller A, Phan Sy O, et al. Does Whole-Body Bone SPECT/CT Provide Additional Diagnostic Information Over [18F]-FCH PET/CT for the Detection of Bone Metastases in the Setting of Prostate Cancer Biochemical Recurrence? Cancer Imaging (2020) 20:58. 10.1186/s40644-020-00333-y [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 44. Sánchez N, Valduvieco I, Ribal MJ, Campos F, Casas F, Nicolau C, et al. Diagnostic Utility and Therapeutic Impact of PET/CT 18F-Fluoromethylcholine -Choline in the Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer. Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol (2020) 39:284–91. 10.1016/j.remn.2020.03.010 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 45. Zattoni F, Ravelli I, Rensi M, Capobianco D, Borsatti E, Baresic T, et al. 10-Year Clinical Experience With 18F-Choline PET/CT: An Italian Multicenter Retrospective Assessment of 3343 Patients. Clin Nucl Med (2020) 45:594–603. 10.1097/rlu.0000000000003125 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 46. Schuster DM, Savir-Baruch B, Nieh PT, Master VA, Halkar RK, Rossi PJ, et al. Detection of Recurrent Prostate Carcinoma With Anti-1-Amino-3-F-18-Fluorocyclobutane-1-Carboxylic Acid PET/CT and in-111-Capromab Pendetide SPECT/CT. Radiology (2011) 259:852–61. 10.1148/radiol.11102023 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 47. Kairemo K, Rasulova N, Partanen K, Joensuu T. Preliminary Clinical Experience of Trans-1-Amino-3-(18)F-Fluorocyclobutanecarboxylic Acid (Anti-(18)F-FACBC) PET/CT Imaging in Prostate Cancer Patients. BioMed Res Int (2014) 2014:305182. 10.1155/2014/305182 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 48. Nanni C, Zanoni L, Pultrone C, Schiavina R, Brunocilla E, Lodi F, et al. (18)F-FACBC (Anti1-Amino-3-(18)F-Fluorocyclobutane-1-Carboxylic Acid) Versus (11)C-Choline PET/CT in Prostate Cancer Relapse: Results of a Prospective Trial. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2016) 43:1601–10. 10.1007/s00259-016-3329-1 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 49. Odewole OA, Tade FI, Nieh PT, Savir-Baruch B, Jani AB, Master VA, et al. Recurrent Prostate Cancer Detection With Anti-3-[18F]FACBC PET/CT: Comparison With CT. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2016) 43:1773–83. 10.1007/s00259-016-3383-8 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 50. Akin-Akintayo OO, Jani AB, Odewole O, Tade FI, Nieh PT, Master VA, et al. Change in Salvage Radiotherapy Management Based on (Fluciclovine) PET/CT in Postprostatectomy Recurrent Prostate Cancer. Clin Nucl Med (2017) 42:e22–e8. 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001379 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 51. Bach-Gansmo T, Nanni C, Nieh PT, Zanoni L, Bogsrud TV, Sletten H, et al. Multisite Experience of the Safety, Detection Rate and Diagnostic Performance of Fluciclovine ((18)F) Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography Imaging in the Staging of Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer. J Urol (2017) 197:676–83. 10.1016/j.juro.2016.09.117 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 52. Miller MP, Kostakoglu L, Pryma D, Yu JQ, Chau A, Perlman E, et al. Reader Training for the Restaging of Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer Using (18)F-Fluciclovine PET/CT. J Nucl Med (2017) 58:1596–602. 10.2967/jnumed.116.188375 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 53. Jambor I, Kuisma A, Kahkonen E, Kemppainen J, Merisaari H, Eskola O, et al. Prospective Evaluation of (18)F-FACBC PET/CT and PET/MRI Versus Multiparametric MRI in Intermediate- to High-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients (FLUCIPRO Trial). Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2018) 45:355–64. 10.1007/s00259-017-3875-1 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 54. Andriole GL, Kostakoglu L, Chau A, Duan F, Mahmood U, Mankoff DA, et al. The Impact of Positron Emission Tomography With 18F-Fluciclovine on the Treatment of Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer: Results From the LOCATE Trial. J Urol (2019) 201:322–31. 10.1016/j.juro.2018.08.050 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 55. Calais J, Ceci F, Eiber M, Hope TA, Hofman MS, Rischpler C, et al. Head to Head-FACBC vs PSMA-Restaging-DR 18F-Fluciclovine PET-CT and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT in Patients With Early Biochemical Recurrence After Prostatectomy: A Prospective, Single-Centre, Single-Arm, Comparative Imaging Trial. Lancet Oncol (2019) 20:1286–94. 10.1016/s1470-2045(19)30415-2 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 56. England JR, Paluch J, Ballas LK, Jadvar H. 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT Detection of Recurrent Prostate Carcinoma in Patients With Serum PSA </= 1 Ng/Ml After Definitive Primary Treatment. Clin Nucl Med (2019) 44:e128–e32. 10.1097/RLU.0000000000002432 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 57. Savir-Baruch B, Lovrec P, Solanki AA, Adams WH, Yonover PM, Gupta G, et al. Fluorine-18-Labeled Fluciclovine PET/CT in Clinical Practice: Factors Affecting the Rate of Detection of Recurrent Prostate Cancer. AJR Am J Roentgenol (2019) 213:851–8. 10.2214/ajr.19.21153 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 58. Teyateeti A, Khan B, Teyateeti A, Chen B, Bridhikitti J, Pan T, et al. Diagnostic Performance of F-18 Fluciclovine PET/CT in Post-Radical Prostatectomy Prostate Cancer Patients With Rising Prostate-Specific Antigen Level </=0.5 Ng/Ml. Nucl Med Commun (2020) 41:906–15. 10.1097/MNM.0000000000001228 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 59. Garza D, Kandathil A, Xi Y, Subramaniam RM. 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT Detection of Biochemical Recurrent Prostate Cancer in Patients With PSA Levels <2.00 Ng/Ml. Nucl Med Commun (2021). 10.1097/MNM.0000000000001412 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 60. Michael J, Khandani AH, Basak R, Tan HJ, Royce TJ, Wallen E, et al. Patterns of Recurrence, Detection Rates, and Impact of 18-F Fluciclovine PET/CT on the Management of Men With Recurrent Prostate Cancer. Urology (2021) S0090-4295:00110–2. 10.1016/j.urology.2021.01.038 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 61. Nakamoto R, Harrison C, Song H, Guja KE, Hatami N, Nguyen J, et al. The Clinical Utility of (18)F-Fluciclovine PET/CT in Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer: An Academic Center Experience Post FDA Approval. Mol Imaging Biol (2021). 10.1007/s11307-021-01583-3 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 62. Rahbar K, Afshar-Oromieh A, Seifert R, Wagner S, Schäfers M, Bögemann M, et al. Diagnostic Performance of (18)F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in Patients With Biochemical Recurrent Prostate Cancer. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2018) 45:2055–61. 10.1007/s00259-018-4089-x [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 63. Eiber M, Kroenke M, Wurzer A, Ulbrich L, Jooß L, Maurer T, et al. 18F-Rhpsma-7 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for the Detection of Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer Following Radical Prostatectomy. J Nucl Med (2019) 61:696–701. 10.2967/jnumed.119.234914 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 64. Giesel FL, Knorr K, Spohn F, Will L, Maurer T, Flechsig P. et al. Detection Efficacy of (18)F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in 251 Patients With Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy. J Nucl Med 2019) 64 60:362–8. 10.2967/jnumed.118.212233 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 65. Rousseau E, Wilson D, Lacroix-Poisson F, Krauze A, Chi K, Gleave M, et al. A Prospective Study on F-18-Dcfpyl PSMA PET/CT Imaging in Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer. J Nucl Med (2019) 60:1587–93. 10.2967/jnumed.119.226381 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 66. Wondergem M, Jansen BHE, van der Zant FM, van der Sluis TM, Knol RJJ, van Kalmthout LWM, et al. Early Lesion Detection With (18)F-Dcfpyl PET/CT in 248 Patients With Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2019) 46:1911–8. 10.1007/s00259-019-04385-6 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 67. Chausse G, Ben-Ezra N, Stoopler M, Levett JY, Niazi T, Anidjar M, et al. Diagnostic Performance of (18)F-Dcfpyl Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer and Change-of-Management Analysis. Can Urol Assoc J (2020) 15. 10.5489/cuaj.6817 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 68. Mena E, Lindenberg ML, Turkbey IB, Shih JH, Harmon SA, Lim I, et al. F-18-Dcfpyl PET/CT Imaging in Patients With Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Primary Local Therapy. J Nucl Med (2020) 61:881–9. 10.2967/jnumed.119.234799 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 69. Rowe SP, Campbell SP, Mana-Ay M, Szabo Z, Allaf ME, Pienta KJ, et al. Prospective Evaluation of PSMA-Targeted F-18-Dcfpyl PET/CT in Men With Biochemical Failure After Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer. J Nucl Med (2020) 61:58–61. 10.2967/jnumed.119.226514 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 70. Song H, Harrison C, Duan H, Guja K, Hatami N, Franc BL, et al. Prospective Evaluation of (18)F-Dcfpyl PET/CT in Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer in an Academic Center: A Focus on Disease Localization and Changes in Management. J Nucl Med (2020) 61:546–51. 10.2967/jnumed.119.231654 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 71. Witkowska-Patena E, Giżewska A, Dziuk M, Miśko J, Budzyńska A, Walęcka-Mazur A. Diagnostic Performance of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in Biochemically Relapsed Patients With Prostate Cancer With PSA Levels ≤ 2.0 Ng/Ml. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis (2020) 23:343–8. 10.1038/s41391-019-0194-6 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 72. Dietlein F, Mueller P, Kobe C, Endepols H, Hohberg M, Zlatopolskiy BD, et al. [(18)F]-JK-PSMA-7 PET/CT Under Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Advanced Prostate Cancer. Mol Imaging Biol (2021) 23:277–86. 10.1007/s11307-020-01546-0 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 73. Koschel S, Taubman K, Sutherland T, Yap K, Chao M, Guerrieri M, et al. Patterns of Disease Detection Using [(18)F]Dcfpyl PET/CT Imaging in Patients With Detectable PSA Post Prostatectomy Being Considered for Salvage Radiotherapy: A Prospective Trial. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2021). 10.1007/s00259-021-05354-8 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 74. Perry E, Talwar A, Taubman K, Ng M, Wong LM, Booth R, et al. [(18)F]Dcfpyl PET/CT in Detection and Localization of Recurrent Prostate Cancer Following Prostatectomy Including Low PSA < 0.5 Ng/Ml. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2021) 48:2038–46. 10.1007/s00259-020-05143-9 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 75. Ghafoor S, Burger IA, Vargas AH. Multimodality Imaging of Prostate Cancer. J Nucl Med (2019) 60:1350–8. 10.2967/jnumed.119.228320 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 76. Wang R, Shen G, Yang R, Ma X, Tian R. (68)Ga-PSMA PET/MRI for the Diagnosis of Primary and Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Eur J Radiol (2020) 130:109131. 10.1016/j.ejrad.2020.109131 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 77. Glaser ZA, Rais-Bahrami S. Fluciclovine Positron Emission Tomography in the Setting of Biochemical Recurrence Following Local Therapy of Prostate Cancer. Transl Androl Urol (2018) 7:824–30. 10.21037/tau.2018.07.17 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 78. Tan N, Oyoyo U, Bavadian N, Ferguson N, Mukkamala A, Calais J, et al. PSMA-Targeted Radiotracers Versus F-18 Fluciclovine for the Detection of Prostate Cancer Biochemical Recurrence After Definitive Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Radiology (2020) 296:44–55. 10.1148/radiol.2020191689 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 79. Giesel FL, Kesch C, Yun M, Cardinale J, Haberkorn U, Kopka K, et al. 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT Detects Micrometastases in a Patient With Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer. Clin Genitourin Cancer (2017) 15:e497–e9. 10.1016/j.clgc.2016.12.029 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 80. Fendler WP, Calais J, Eiber M, Flavell RR, Mishoe A, Feng FY, et al. Assessment of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET Accuracy in Localizing Recurrent Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Single-Arm Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol (2019) 5:856–63. 10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.0096 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 81. Lawhn-Heath C, Flavell RR, Behr SC, Yohannan T, Greene KL, Feng F, et al. Single-Center Prospective Evaluation of (68)Ga-PSMA-11 PET in Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer. AJR Am J Roentgenol (2019) 213:266–74. 10.2214/AJR.18.20699 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 82. Nanni C, Schiavina R, Brunocilla E, Boschi S, Borghesi M, Zanoni L, et al. 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT for the Detection of Prostate Cancer Relapse: A Comparison to 11C-Choline PET/CT. Clin Nucl Med (2015) 40:e386–91. 10.1097/rlu.0000000000000849 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 83. Abiodun-Ojo OA, Akintayo AA, Akin-Akintayo OO, Tade FI, Nieh PT, Master VA, et al. (18)F-Fluciclovine Parameters on Targeted Prostate Biopsy Associated With True Positivity in Recurrent Prostate Cancer. J Nucl Med (2019) 60:1531–6. 10.2967/jnumed.119.227033 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 84. Gauvin S, Cerantola Y, Haberer E, Pelsser V, Probst S, Bladou F, et al. Initial Single-Centre Canadian Experience With 18F-Fluoromethylcholine Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (18F-FCH PET/CT) for Biochemical Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients Initially Treated With Curative Intent. Can Urol Assoc J (2017) 11:47–52. 10.5489/cuaj.4068 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.