High AST and the presence of liver metastases may guide for the need for FDG PET in advanced prostate cancer patients


Telli T., TUNCEL M., KARABULUT E., AKSOY S., ERMAN M., AKDOĞAN B., ...More

Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations, vol.44, no.4, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 44 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2025.12.010
  • Journal Name: Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Keywords: FDG PET-CT, Ga-68 PSMA, Lu-177 PSMA-617, Metastatic castration-resistant prostate carcinoma, Mismatch
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective [68Ga]/[18F] labeled Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) is the radiotracer of choice for imaging localized and metastatic prostate cancer with high sensitivity and specificity. On the other hand, 2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomograpy/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) may help to evaluate the tumor heterogeneity in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and determine treatment eligibility for Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) targeted radioligand therapy (PSMA-RLT) . The aim of the study is to evaluate the biochemical and clinical parameters which can predict the presence of FDG-PSMA discordant disease. Material and Methods A total of 70 advanced mCRPC patients who underwent [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET and FDG PET/CT between August 2016 and June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Inter-tumoral heterogeneity was both visually and semi-quantitatively evaluated. Baseline clinical, laboratory and PSMA PET/CT related semi-quantitative parameters were analyzed to predict FDG discordant disease with logistic regression analysis. Results 29/70 (41.4%) of the patients had FDG-PSMA discordant disease. Overall 427 mismatch lesions (FDG+PSMA-) were detected: the majority of these lesions were in the bones ( n = 236, 55.2%), lymph nodes ( n = 95, 22.2%), and visceral organs ( n = 88, 20.6%). Most significant parameters to predict FDG-PSMA discordant disease were liver metastases (HR= 26.5, 95%CI 2.3-302.9, P = 0.008) and serum AST (HR= 1.15, 95%CI 1.04-1.26, P = 0.007). Conclusion The presence of liver metastases and elevated AST may be easily used in clinical practice to predict FDG-PSMA discordant disease.