Opinion
Video
Dr. Helfand on the potential role for PSMA-PET imaging in active surveillance
Author(s):
“And certainly, while most of these studies are ongoing, the initial data looks promising to say that there may be a role for a PSMA next-generation imaging in the decision for the appropriateness for active surveillance,” says Brian T. Helfand, MD, PhD.
In this interview, Brian T. Helfand, MD, PhD, describes the potential for PSMA-PET imaging to play a role in determining the appropriateness of active surveillance for patients with prostate cancer. Helfand is a urologic oncologist at NorthShore University Health System in Chicago, Illinois.
Video Transcript:
Looking at the ability of PSMA-PET imaging into new spaces is always really exciting. I do think certainly that the ability to estimate the location and/or extent of a tumor is imperative to active surveillance. We do know that higher volume tumors certainly have higher risk of having more aggressive disease and certainly, if we knew that patients have higher volume or more aggressive tumors, they may not be suitable for active surveillance. And certainly, while most of these studies are ongoing, the initial data looks promising to say that there may be a role for a PSMA next-generation imaging in the decision for the appropriateness for active surveillance. And certainly, if you do have intense bilateral signals that may not be as appropriate as if someone has a very minimal amount of radiotracer accumulation or avidity in their prostate. So, the data still is forthcoming, but I'm very excited that this may be a new ability to more appropriately identify patients. I think also the promise of combining a lot of these technologies, so using PSMA-PET CT imaging with MRI imaging, so I guess it would be PSMA-PET MRI imaging, also adds a new dimension as well. We really have to validate the sensitivity and specificity in these settings, but again, these studies are ongoing and looking to see how they come out.
This transcription has been edited for clarity.
