Free Randomized Clinical Trial of Ga-68-PSMA-11 PET indicator at UCLA

UCLA is giving away for free their Ga(68)PSMA-11 PET scans that they normally charge $2650 for. This is a randomized clinical trial, so those randomized to the control group will not get the PSMA-based scan. However, they may be able to get an Axumin PET scan. It is only open to patients post-prostatectomy whose PSA ≥ 0.1 ng/ml and who might have salvage radiation.

Here's a brief article about it:
/pcnrv.blogspot.com/2018/09/free-randomized-clinical-trial-of-ga-68.html

AK123-

I'm pretty sure that there aren't any PSMA-based PET scans that are covered by Medicare or most insurance. Since you've already had SRT you do not quality for the UCLA trial. With a PSADT of 6 months, I don't understand what you hope to gain by waiting for it. At this point, what's the difference if they are detectable or not?

TA,
Sorry to bother you again with this but here is what you suggested
Earlier and am trying to pick a treatment
“

1) Get a PET scan.
->If your pelvic lymph nodes haven't been treated and they are positive on the PET scan, you can have salvage radiation there. (with adjuvant ADT)
->If your pelvic lymph nodes haven't been treated and they are negative on the PET scan, you can have salvage radiation there. (with adjuvant ADT)
->If your pelvic lymph nodes have been treated and some are positive on the PET scan, you may be able to have salvage radiation to those if they are few.
-> If distant mets are detected, you can have them zapped, but the benefit is uncertain. Lifelong ADT should start.

2) Start on intermittent ADT
->start with a low dose of Casodex only (and tamoxifen)
->start with Lupron + Casodex (and tamoxifen)
->start with Lupron only
->start with Lupron and Zytiga/Xtandi (but insurance may not cover it)

3) Wait to start ADT until PSA gets very high or metastases are detectable.

My advice is to meet with an RO to discuss option 1, and to meet with a medical oncologist to discuss options 2 and 3 “
Thanks

Thanks for posting this trial, TA.

I had asked my RO Dr Z,about a PET Scan, through the nurse, he said it would make no sense at my PSA if .08.

Honestly, I might have waited till .1, probably another 3-6 months, to take advantage of this (emphasis on “might”). But at this point, no doubt I’d be disqualified now that I’ve had my first shot of Firmagon.

Pratoman-

Even at 0.1, your chances of finding something is slim. Maybe some of the new experimental ligands that bind to other prostate cancer stuff will prove more accurate at lower PSA. Too late to help you, but maybe someday.

Ak123-
Only you can answer that. You have to determine what kind of risk you are comfortable with.