Bring it on!
"Piflufolastat is administered to patients with an IV. Radioactive molecules bind to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a protein found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. The radiotracers are detected by the PET machine, which displays on a scan where they have settled on prostate cancer cells in the body. Piflufolastat’s radioactive element is entirely gone from the body within a few days.
Piflufolastat cannot tag every single prostate cancer cell, but it far surpasses the level of detection previously available with CT, MRI or bone scans.
“To now be able to see this all directly on a scan is a real game-changer in the fight against prostate cancer,” said Appelbaum. .....................................................
Those eligible for the scan include patients whose prostate cancer has likely spread to other parts of the body and who are potentially curable with radiation, surgery or other types of treatment, as well as patients with a suspected recurrence of prostate cancer based on a rise in their PSA level.
Aytekin Oto, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiology, said the scans can also inform doctors about
how well a specific treatment is working. A small but substantial percentage of patients with late-stage prostate cancer experience widespread disease throughout their body. But unlike patients with some other cancers, prostate cancer patients can survive for years with the right chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
“With PSMA PET, we can accurately monitor the response to therapy for these patients so that if one approach doesn't work, we can switch to another,” said Oto, Chief Physician of the University of Chicago Medicine Physicians and Dean for Clinical Affairs.
Studies are already taking place at UChicago Medicine that use an even newer variant of this radiotracer to not only find, but to destroy prostate cancer cells. These treatments are expected to be approved in the next few years, and while they may not cure prostate cancer, they could further extend the lives of patients battling the most aggressive cases.
“I think next decade will be the decade of molecular imaging,” said Oto. “We're going to see many more advances in molecular imaging compared to established imaging techniques like CT and MRI.” "
My URO mentioned "use an even newer variant of this radiotracer to not only find, but to destroy prostate cancer cells." a few months ago. So I am pleased to read more about
that in this article. Yes, bring it on!
https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/cancer-articles/doctors-can-see-prostate-cancer-anywhere-in-the-body-with-psma-pet-imaging