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2021 Larry Ruvo-PCF Young Investigator Award

Development of Biomarker-Based Approaches to Optimize PSMA-Targeted Therapeutics for Advanced Prostate Cancer

Andrei Gafita, MD
University of California, Los Angeles

Mentors: Johannes Czernin, MD, Jeremie Calais, MD, Matthew Rettig, MD

Description:

  • 177Lu-PSMA-targeted radionuclide therapy (LuPSMA) is a novel treatment that has shown significant survival benefit in phase 2 & 3 clinical trials for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and is now under evaluation for FDA approval.
  • Enrollment of patients on these trials has typically required positive PSMA-PET imaging scans. However, the predictive value of PSMA PET for LuPSMA treatment response has not been established. Furthermore, whether standard imaging (bone scan + CT) or PSMA-PET scans are best for evaluating treatment responses to LuPSMA is not yet known.
  • Dr. Andrei Gafita is studying the role of various imaging modalities for selecting patients for LuPSMA and for evaluating treatment responses.
  • In this project, Dr. Gafita will establish an international database of molecular imaging and clinical data from patients treated with LuPSMA. This data will be used to determine the predictive value of PSMA-PET/CT alone or with the addition of FDG-PET for treatment responses to LuPSMA and outcomes including overall survival.
  • Standardized imaging criteria and nomograms will be developed for use in clinical practice and trial design for patient selection and stratification.
  • If successful, this project will establish standardized criteria for patient selection and response evaluation and by doing that, improve outcome of patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with LuPSMA.

What this means to patients: LuPSMA is a highly effective new treatment for advanced prostate cancer that is likely to receive FDA approval in the near future. Dr. Gafita is developing standardized imaging criteria that will guide optimal selection of patients who are most likely to respond to this therapy, predict outcomes, and be used to guide future clinical trials in this area.