Androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSi) have significantly improved clinical outcomes in men with prostate cancer (PCa). Preliminary data suggest the potential for ARSi to enhance PSMA expression in patients with mCRPC. In this analysis, we present preliminary dosimetry results from mCRPC patients treated with either [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 or [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T radioligand therapy (RLT) in combination with ARSi compared to a Control Group of patients receiving [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 or [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T monotherapy.
This retrospective analysis was performed at a single center, including 50 patients diagnosed with mCRPC who underwent their first cycle of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (n = 37) or [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T (n = 13) RLT ± concomitant ARSi treatment (abiraterone or enzalutamide). Patients were divided into a Combination Group (RLT + ARSi, n = 25) and a Control Group (RLT only, n = 25). Quantitative SPECT imaging was performed at 3 time points: 24 h (+ CT), 48 h, and 72 h post-administration of the initial cycle of RLT. Tumor lesions were segmented using the 24 h SPECT images, while organs-at-risk (kidney, spleen, liver) were delineated on the corresponding CT. Absorbed doses were calculated by applying a mono-exponential curve fit, incorporating local density scaling. Dosimetry results were evaluated separately for each radioligand.
Overall, 148 tumor lesions were included in this analysis (median 3 lesions per patient). The median tumor absorbed dose was comparable between the Combination Group and the Control Group: [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (2.1 ± 4.0 Gy/GBq vs 1.5 ± 1.7 Gy/GBq, p = 0.24) and [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T (1.2 ± 1.2 Gy/GBq vs 1.2 ± 3.5 Gy/GBq, p = 0.21). Furthermore, the median absorbed dose in organs-at-risk was comparable between the two groups in [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617: Kidneys: 0.28 ± 0.11 Gy/GBq vs 0.27 ± 0.13 Gy/GBq, p = 0.90; Spleen: 0.05 ± 0.05 Gy/GBq vs 0.06 ± 0.05 Gy/GBq, p = 0.75; Liver: 0.08 ± 0.03 Gy/GBq vs 0.07 ± 0.04 Gy/GBq, p = 0.75). A statistically significant difference was noted in kidneys and liver for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T: Kidneys: 0.21 ± 0.10 Gy/GBq vs 0.30 ± 0.08 Gy/GBq, p = 0.01; Spleen: 0.02 ± 0.02 Gy/GBq vs 0.04 ± 0.03 Gy/GBq, p = 0.20; Liver: 0.02 ± 0.01 Gy/GBq vs 0.04 ± 0.01 Gy/GBq, p = 0.01.
In this pilot cohort, concomitant ARSi therapy did not significantly enhance tumor absorbed doses in patients receiving [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 or [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T RLT. Further prospective studies with larger patient numbers are needed to evaluate the impact of concomitant ARSi treatment on the absorbed doses in mCRPC tumor lesions.
European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. 2026 Jun 11 [Epub ahead of print]
Josef Zahner, Astrid Delker, Zachary Ells, Ana Antic Nikolic, Adrien Holzgreve, Sophie C Siegmund, Maximilian Tiling, Mathias J Zacherl, Elena Berg, Can D Aydogdu, Alexander Dierks, Marcus Unterrainer, Guido Böning, Christian Stief, Jeremie Calais, Constantin Lapa, Rudolf A Werner, Jozefina Casuscelli, Lena M Unterrainer
Department of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany., Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany., Department of Urology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Die Radiologie, Munich, Germany., Ahmanson Translational Theranostics Division, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA., Department of Urology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. .