PSMA SCAN LOCATIONS?

[joeguy]

Does anyone know of any PSMA PET scan trials that are still going on during the Corona lock downs? I am looking to get a scan when my PSA is at the right level, probably around November. I live in the Tulsa, Ok. area, and I would like to avoid cities that are virus hot spots if possible. I found a study going on at the university of Iowa, but have not been able to reach anyone involved. Thanks

[Tall_Allen]

UCLA has an open trial:

healthunlocked.com/advanced...

Before you shell out that kind of money, you may want to think about whether it can actually change any treatment decisions.

[joeguy in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks Allen,

My reason for wanting the scan is because we know I had positive pelvic lymph nodes and tissues at surgery, and PSA was still around 11.00 after surgery. Standard bone and PET/CT scans since have shown nothing, but we are treating it as if the cancer has had distant spread. We do not know if my cancer is regional or distant. If it turns out to be regional, I might consider radiation.

[Tall_Allen in reply to joeguy]

At a PSA of 11, you should be able to get an Axumin scan locally, which is just as likely to show something.

[joeguy in reply to Tall_Allen]

PSA of 11 was just after RP in 2016. Since then, 3 years of ADT drove that number to 0.00

I am currently on a drug vacation and PSA is starting to come back, but currently only at .2 and rising.

[Tall_Allen in reply to joeguy]

Also, I am hoping that by November, PSMA PET scans will be approved for recurrences.

[joeguy in reply to Tall_Allen]

They do offer Axumin scans at my oncologists facility in Tulsa, but I had heard they are only about 50% as accurate as PSMA scans. I also heard PSA needs to be at least 2.00, or maybe higher for Axumin to detect (I should be at PSA 2.00 - 4.00 by November)

[Tall_Allen in reply to joeguy]

At a PSA of 2, Axumin has about the same detection rate as a PSMA PET scan:

prostatecancer.news/2016/12...

[joeguy in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks...... it would be a lot less trouble (and travel) if I get the Axumin rather than the PSMA

[garyi in reply to joeguy]

Good idea to get that Axumin scan soon, hopefully get some new data, and insurance should cover it. It won't preclude you from getting a PSMA PET Scan in the future, if warranted. Good luck.

[tango65]

With a PSA of 0.2 the best detection rate is with the PSMA PET/CT studies (Ga 68 PSMA or 18F DCFPyl). There are clinical trials for these studies:

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resu...

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resu...

You may qualify for one of these trials.

[joeguy in reply to tango65]

Thanks...... my .2 PSA is rising fairly quickly....at current velocity, I expect it to be over 2.00 by late October, so maybe the Axumin scan will produce results at that point ?

[tango65 in reply to joeguy]

If the PSMA PET/CT shows that the cancer is located only in the pelvis you could be treated with whole pelvis radiation. If your PSA is less than 0.6 you may not need hormone therapy. If your PSA is higher than 0.6 you may benefit of hormone therapy.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/322...

You should discuss having a PSMA PET/CT when the PSA is around 0.5. If the clinical trials are not suitable for your situation, you can get a PSMA PET/CT for $ 2800 at UCLA.

UCLA Nuclear Medicine

200 Medical Plaza, Suite B114

Los Angeles, CA 90095

PHONE: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

With a PSA of 0.5 to 0.6 the detection rate of the Ga 68 PSMA PET/CTis between 45% to 70%.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/284...

Best of luck on this journey.!!

[Vany4]

Sloan Kettering in New York

[Chugach]

I talked with someone who found it cheaper to fly to Australia and get the PSMA Pet scan there, even with airfare. Not sure about travel now with covid, but if your jumping on a plane ....

[AlanLawrenson in reply to Chugach]

Australia is CLOSED to non-residents. Even residents returning are required to have 14 days in a quarantine hotel. No exceptions. (Our Defence Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister are in the USA this week for Government meeting. Both will return to 14 day lockup.)