GE-148 (18F) injection PET/CT imaging and multiparametric MRI for detection of localized prostate cancer using customized MRI-based specimen molds

Objectives GE-148 (18F) Injection, also known as [18F]FACBC which is a synthetic L-leucine analogue formulation which targets upregulated amino acid transport within tumors. In this preliminary report, we investigate GE-148 (18F) Injection and multiparametric (MP) 3T MR in detection of localized prostate cancer and compare imaging findings with whole-mount histopathology obtained via customized MRI-based prostatectomy molds.

Methods In this ongoing study, patients with documented prostate cancer underwent MP 3T MRI and PET/CT imaging with GE-148 (18F) Injection (maximum of 370MBq [10mCi], mass dose <20µg). Dynamic PET/CT of the pelvis was performed for 30min., followed by a static whole-body PET/CT. Patients underwent robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy within 3 weeks following completion of imaging. Prostatectomy specimens were processed within MRI-based customized molds that allow geometrical alignment of specimens with MRI. PET/CT was registered to the MRI (and thus to the histopathology) and the uptake of [18F]GE-148 compared with MP MRI.

Results Focal intra-prostatic [18F]GE-148 uptake was assessed. SUVs for intra-prostatic tumor and non-tumor pathologies (BPH, prostatitis) and a reference region were determined for each time frame. Time-activity curves for tumor and non-tumor regions (retrospectively identified from whole-mount histopathology and prospectively predicted by MRI) will be presented.

Conclusions Preliminary data on the distribution of [18F]GE-148 in intra-prostatic tumors and accompanying non-tumor pathologies with regards to MP MRI and whole-mount histopathology will be presented. This ongoing work may be critical for more specific localization of prostate cancer, which may enable effective focal therapies