Exploring the potential of [11C]choline-PET/CT as a novel imaging biomarker for predicting early treatment response in prostate cancer

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to assess the effects of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation (NAD) and radical prostate radiotherapy with concurrent androgen deprivation (RT-CAD) on prostatic [C-11]choline kinetics and thus develop methodology for the use of [C-11]choline-PET/computed tomography (CT) as an early imaging biomarker.Materials and methodsTen patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer underwent three sequential dynamic [C-11]choline-PET/CT pelvic scans: at baseline, after NAD and 4 months after RT-CAD. [C-11]Choline uptake was quantified using the average and maximum standardized uptake values at 60 min (SUV60,ave and SUV60,max), the tumour-to-muscle ratios (TMR60,max) and net irreversible retention of [C-11]choline at steady state (Ki(mod-pat)).ResultsThe combination of NAD and RT-CAD significantly decreased tumour [C-11]choline uptake (SUV60,ave, SUV60,max, TMR60,max or Ki(mod-pat)) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (analysis of variance, P<0.001 for all variables). Although the magnitude of reduction in the variables was larger after NAD, there was a smaller additional reduction after RT-CAD. A wide range of reduction in tumour SUV60,ave (38-83.7%) and SUV60,max (22.2-85.3%) was seen with combined NAD and RT-CAD despite patients universally achieving PSA suppression (narrow range of 93.5-99.7%). There was good association between baseline SUV60,max and initial PSA levels (Pearson's r=0.7, P=0.04). The reduction in tumour SUV60,ave after NAD was associated with PSA reduction (r=0.7, P=0.04). This association occurred despite the larger reduction in PSA (94%) compared with SUV60,ave (58%).ConclusionThis feasibility study shows that [C-11]choline-PET/CT detects metabolic changes within tumours following NAD and RT-CAD to the prostate. A differential reduction in [C-11]choline uptake despite a global reduction in PSA following NAD and RT-CAD could provide prognostic information and warrants further evaluation as an imaging biomarker in this setting.