Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–ligand positron emission tomography and radioligand therapy (RLT) of prostate cancer

Abstract From a clinical perspective, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a valuable target for both diagnosis and radioligand therapy (RLT) of prostate cancer. The term ‘specific’ has been used to characterize a histologic hallmark of overexpression in the membrane of most prostate cancer. Many PSMA ligands have been developed since the previous decade and have been used in several clinical trials and clinical studies. However, procedure, specification, protocol, interpretation criteria, radiation dose, and cost-effectiveness of PSMA ligands have not been fully explained. Regardless of worldwide use of promising PSMA-ligand PET and RLT, it has not been approved in Japan. Expedited introduction of PSMA-ligand PET and RLT to Japan and implementation of clinical study are eager for many patients with prostate cancer.

Download Full-text

Current status of radioligand therapy and positron-emission tomography with prostate-specific membrane antigen

Annals of Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.1007/s12149-020-01549-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (12) ◽

pp. 879-883

Author(s):

Masayuki Inubushi ◽

Hiroyuki Miura ◽

Ichiei Kuji ◽

Kimiteru Ito ◽

Ryogo Minamimoto

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Positron Emission Tomography ◽

The United States ◽

Emission Tomography ◽

Current Status ◽

Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen ◽

Radioligand Therapy ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Psma Pet ◽

Specific Membrane

AbstractProstate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane glycoprotein highly expressed by prostate cancer cells. PSMA-based radioligand therapy (RLT) emerged as a promising therapeutic option for prostate cancer in the early 2000s, and has been clinically validated with great enthusiasm during these past two decades. Last year, the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) published the procedure guidelines for the safe clinical practice of Lutetium-177 (177Lu)-labelled PSMA RLT. In addition, PSMA RLT with alpha-ray-emitting radioisotopes has been also developed recently. Following the clinical use of 177Lu-PSMA RLT, PSMA-targeted positron-emission tomography (PET) with Gallium-68 (68Ga) has been performed inevitably for “theranostics” for the last decade; prostate cancer is going to be treated with PSMA-RLT based on the diagnosis by PSMA-PET. Furthermore, the diagnostic usefulness of 68Ga-PSMA PET has been documented in various diseases beyond prostate cancer more recently. Regrettably, Japan is behind European countries and the United States in this field, and has just made a belated start of their clinical trials. In this review article, we briefly overviewed the current status of PSMA RLT and PSMA PET. We hope that this topic will be a particular focus of attention for most ANM readers in Japan, and that our efforts will help to facilitate the early approval of PSMA RLT and PSMA PET by the Japanese government even if only slightly.

Download Full-text