Researchers at UCLA have made a groundbreaking discovery using PSMA-PET imaging that nearly half of patients with high-risk prostate cancer may have metastases undetected by traditional imaging methods. This finding could significantly impact treatment decisions and patient outcomes.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that advanced imaging technology, PSMA-PET, detected cancer metastases in 46% of patients who were initially diagnosed as nonmetastatic using conventional imaging. This suggests that traditional imaging often underestimates the extent of cancer spread.
The researchers used PSMA-PET to assess 182 patients with high-risk recurrent prostate cancers and found that 24% had 5 or more lesions missed by conventional imaging. The study highlights the critical role of PSMA-PET in accurately staging prostate cancer, which can significantly impact treatment decisions and outcomes.
The findings challenge previous studies, like the EMBARK trial, and support the inclusion of PSMA-PET for patient selection in clinical trials. It also raises questions about integrating new imaging technologies into standard care and opens up potentially curative options for some patients.
More research is needed to understand the impact of PSMA-PET on long-term patient outcomes, but the study’s authors are confident that it will continue to advance prostate cancer staging and guide personalized therapies.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/the-cancer-test-that-exposes-what-conventional-scans-miss