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Abstract Introduction Quantitative interpretation of pediatric brain [ 18 F]-FDG PET is limited by the lack of age-matched normative reference databases, despite substantial developmental variation in cerebral glucose metabolism. This study aimed to construct a large-scale normative pediatric [ 18 F]-FDG PET database and develop an age-specific z-score mapping framework for quantitative evaluation of pediatric epilepsy. Method Pediatric brain PET data were retrospectively derived from clinically acquired whole-body or dedicated [ 18 F]-FDG PET examinations in participants 0–19 years of age without neurologic disease or visible brain abnormalities. A total of 417 PET scans from 341 participants were stratified into five developmental age groups: infancy, early childhood, middle childhood/school age, adolescence, and late adolescence. SUVR maps were generated using whole-brain atlas and brainstem reference regions. Voxel-wise t-test analyses were performed to characterize age- and sex-related metabolic differences. Age-specific voxel-wise mean and standard deviation maps were generated from the normative cohort and used to calculate age-matched hypometabolic z-score maps in 14 pediatric patients with epilepsy. The resulting abnormalities were qualitatively evaluated for concordance with epileptogenic findings identified on clinical MRI and/or PET by expert image review. Results Voxel-wise analyses demonstrated prominent age-dependent SUVR differences, particularly between infancy and older age groups. With whole-brain atlas normalization, older children showed progressively higher relative SUVR in cortical and cerebellar gray matter regions, whereas infancy showed relatively higher SUVR in the occipital cortex, white matter, thalamus, and brainstem. Brainstem normalization produced distinct developmental patterns, emphasizing higher white matter SUVR in infancy and broader gray matter differences in older groups. Sex-related differences were limited and regionally specific. Whole-brain atlas normalization showed lower variability than brainstem normalization and was selected for z-score mapping. In representative epilepsy cases, age-matched z-score maps identified focal or regional hypometabolism corresponding to malformations of cortical development, focal cortical dysplasia, mesial temporal sclerosis, nonlesional MRI cases, remote insult, tumor-related abnormalities, and Sturge-Weber syndrome. Discussion A large-scale normative pediatric [18F]-FDG PET database can support developmentally appropriate quantitative interpretation of pediatric brain PET. Age-matched z-score mapping may complement visual assessment by highlighting abnormal cerebral glucose metabolism in pediatric epilepsy, although findings should be interpreted with MRI, EEG, seizure semiology, and other presurgical data.

Purpose Radioligand therapy (RLT) with [ 177 Lu] Lu-PSMA-617 has shown significant benefits in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), including prolonged overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), as well as improved quality of life. For patients previously treated with [ 177 Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 who subsequently experience disease progression, retreatment with [ 177 Lu] Lu-PSMA-617 has emerged as a potential approach, yet data on the outcomes of RLT retreatment remains limited. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of retreatment RLT in mCRPC. Methods Clinical and imaging data of patients who underwent at least two cycles of [ 177 Lu] Lu-PSMA-617, followed by a second course of treatment with [ 177 Lu] Lu-PSMA-617 between March 2018 and December 2024, were retrospectively reviewed. Endpoints included biochemical response, imaging response, toxicity, PSA-PFS, rPFS, and OS. Radiologic and biochemical responses were evaluated using RECIST 1.1 criteria and PSA levels, respectively. Results A total of 589 patients underwent [ 177 Lu] Lu-PSMA-617 RLT, of whom 20 (3.4%, 20/589) received RLT retreatment. The median age was 71.3 years (range: 63.7–95.2), and the median follow-up was 73.3 months (95% CI, 35.7–77.2 months) after the initial treatment and 21.7 months (95% CI, 16.9–26.0 months) after retreatment. The initial treatment involved a median of 4.5 cycles (range: 2–6). Following the first course of RLT, 15 patients (75%, 15/20) had exhibited a >50% decline in PSA levels, including 9 who achieved a >90% decrease. Additionally, 12 patients (60%, 12/20) had demonstrated a complete or partial imaging response, while 3 (15%, 3/20) patients had stable disease, and 5 (25%, 5/20) patients had progressive radiologic disease. Patients received a median of 4 retreatment cycles (range, 1–6), and the median interval between initial RLT and retreatment RLT was 33.1 months (IQR, 16.2–48.9 months; range, 10.7–58.8 months). A PSA decline of ≥50% was observed in 9 out of 20 patients (45%, 9/20). An imaging response was observed in 10 patients (50%, 10/20), with 4 achieving a complete response and 6 achieving a partial response, whereas 10 patients (50%, 10/20) showed progression. The median PSA-PFS was 9.8 months (95% CI, 4.1–17.9 months), and the median rPFS was 8.2 months (95% CI, 3.3–17.9 months). Eight deaths occurred during follow-up. The estimated Kaplan Meier OS rates were 83.6% at 12 months (95% CI, 57.3%–94.4%) and 53.7% at 24 months (95% CI, 28.3%–73.7%). Grade 2 renal toxicity was observed in one patient (5%, 1/20). Three patients (15%, 3/20) developed Grade 2 anemia. Notably, no grade 3 or grade 4 adverse events were observed during either treatment period. Conclusion In our cohort, retreatment with [¹ 77 Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 RLT was associated with biochemical and imaging responses in some patients, with observed survival outcomes that support further investigation. However, given the retrospective single-arm design and small sample size, large prospective studies are needed to more rigorously evaluate the safety, efficacy, and optimal patient selection for retreatment RLT.

Long-established prostate cancer cell lines provide limited insight into how contemporary early prostate cancer evolves into drug-resistant and neuroendocrine-like refractory disease. Patient-derived three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo models may better preserve this transition. Here, we found that 8 of 10 magnetic resonance imaging-guided biopsy specimens from patients with early-stage prostate cancer generated sustained 3D tumor spheroid cultures. After 12 weeks of enzalutamide selection, only one patient-derived culture acquired a resistant phenotype with treatment-emergent neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC)-like features, including increased chromogranin A (CgA) and synaptophysin (SYP); reduced androgen receptor (AR), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA); and conversion from compact spheroids into irregular resistant aggregates. During this transition, WD repeat and SOCS box-containing protein 1 (WSB1) increased, whereas PSMA progressively decreased. WSB1 silencing restored PSMA, AR, and PSA expression and reduced neuroendocrine-associated features. A similar WSB1 dependency was observed in enzalutamide-resistant LNCaP cells, the castration-resistant prostate cancer model 22Rv1, and the neuroendocrine/small-cell prostate cancer model NCI-H660. Mechanistically, WSB1 functioned as a SOCS box-dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor that promoted PSMA ubiquitination and degradation. SOCS box deletion or T380A mutation impaired this process, while Aurora kinase A (AURKA) inhibition reduced WSB1-dependent PSMA ubiquitination. WSB1 depletion, AURKA inhibition with alisertib, and combined AURKA inhibition with EZH2 suppression reduced resistant aggregate growth and increased apoptosis-associated markers in patient-derived enzalutamide-resistant neuroendocrine-like spheroids and related models. These findings nominate the AURKA–WSB1–PSMA axis as a therapeutic vulnerability in refractory prostate cancer.

Background and Objective: Radiographic progression in prostate cancer (PCa) can occur even when prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are undetectable. We aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of radiographic disease progression (rDP) on PSMA PET/CT in patients with undetectable PSA, referred to as PSA zero rDP. Methods: We analyzed the Mayo Clinic PSMA PET Prostate Cancer Registry to identify patients with rDP on PSMA PET/CT despite undetectable PSA levels. Disease progression was confirmed via biopsy or treatment response. The cohort included patients with non-metastatic and metastatic hormone-sensitive disease, as well as those with castration-resistant prostate cancer at the time of imaging. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Group comparisons were performed with the log-rank test. Univariate Cox regression was used to identify factors associated with poor OS. Key findings and Limitations: Among 2141 patients imaged between 2021 and 2023, 257 (12%) had PSA zero rDP. Sixty-one percent had initially localized disease; 39% had de novo metastatic disease. Median (IQR) time from diagnosis to PSA zero rDP was 51.9 (18.4–115.5) months. A total of 184 patients (72%) progressed to castration-resistant PCa. Sites of rDP included bone (57%), visceral (15%), lymph node (18%), and local recurrence (10%). During median follow-up of 8.1 (3.5–11.9) months, 5% of patients died. Only visceral metastases were significantly associated with poorer OS (p < 0.0001). Conclusions and Clinical Implications: Prostate cancer patients frequently develop metastatic disease with undetectable PSA values. Our findings suggest the use of periodic advanced imaging techniques, irrespective of PSA value, for more prompt detection and early management of disease progress.

ABSTRACT Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has transformed the management of neuroendocrine tumors and other malignancies by enabling targeted radiation delivery while minimizing systemic toxicity. However, incidental renal radiation exposure presents a significant risk of radiation nephropathy, and this risk varies based on the unique characteristics of the radionuclide and its decay phenomenon as well as the peptide being utilized. This review explores the historical development of PRRT, the physics of radionuclide therapy as necessary for a practicing nephrologist, and key mechanisms of radiation-related kidney injury. We detail renal handling of radionuclides, dose thresholds and pathological features of PRRT-induced nephropathy. Furthermore, we discuss both current and prospective strategies to reduce renal toxicity—such as amino acid infusions, receptor saturation, cleavable linkers and emerging protective agents. Special considerations for PRRT in patients with chronic kidney disease and those on dialysis are highlighted. As PRRT applications expand, multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to optimize renal safety.

114 Background: Oncologists have traditionally relied upon serial assessments of PSA and periodic imaging (i.e., every 2 to 3 cycles) to monitor treatment response. Early identification of disease progression allows for faster transitions to alternative therapies that might be more effective. In this study, we evaluated the utility of post-treatment SPECT/CT for earlier detection of treatment failure in patients receiving Lutetium-177–PSMA-617 (LuPSMA). Methods: We queried an IRB-approved registry including all patients starting LuPSMA at Mayo Clinic, MN, in the interval of March 2022 to March 2023. Those receiving fewer than 2 cycles of treatment and missing SPECT/CT data were excluded. We reviewed clinical notes to document the date and reason(s) for treatment discontinuation. The assembled cohort consists of patients stopping LuPSMA for progressive disease ([PD], categorized as biochemical, radiographic, or both). Results of the prior SPECT/CT imaging reports were reviewed. At our institution SPECT/CT images are typically acquired on the day after each infusion. Metrics collected from the radiology reports included: new foci of PSMA localization since the prior PSMA PET or SPECT/CT, suspicion for new non-PSMA avid disease, and a visual determination of PSMA-avid tumor volume. Results: A total of 256 patients received an initial cycle of LuPSMA. SPECT/CT imaging data for at least 2 consecutive treatment cycles was available for 68 patients who developed PD after a median (IQR) of 3 (2-4) cycles. There were 55 patients (81%) with both biochemical and radiographic evidence of PD, 7 (10%) with biochemical only progression, and 6 (9%) with radiographic only progression. The most used imaging modality for response assessment was PSMA PET/CT (n=46, 67%), followed by conventional imaging (n=9, 13%), and choline PET/CT (n=5, 7%). The median time between most recent post-therapy SPECT/CT and determination of PD was 39 days. The prior SPECT/CT had detected new foci of PSMA avid disease in 12 (18%) cases and new non-PSMA avid disease in 5 (7%) cases. Two patients had both new PSMA-avid and non-PSMA avid lesions. The most common sites of new PSMA-avid disease on SPECT/CT were bone (n=10) and liver (n=2). A total of 20 (29%) patients had visually increased tumor volume on SPECT/CT, 9 (45%) of which had no new lesions. In total, 24 of 68 patients (35%) had early detection of treatment futility detected by SPECT/CT. At a median (IQR) follow-up time of 8 (6.4-12) mo, the median OS [95% CI] was similar for patients with PD detected on SPECT/CT (7.8 [6.6 – 9] mo) compared to those without clear evidence of PD on SPECT/CT(8.4 [6.4-10.3] mo, p=0.885). Conclusions: Post-treatment SPECT/CT imaging may complement traditional forms of response assessment and provide an earlier warning of treatment failure through identification of new PSMA-avid lesions, non-PSMA avid disease, and increased tumor volume.

112 Background: We now have more than a decade of experience using Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors (ARPIs) across various disease states of prostate cancer, and the safety of their combination with Lutetium-177–PSMA-617 has been demonstrated in VISION and other large randomized clinical trials. However, real-world data on treatment patterns and outcomes involving combination therapies with 177 Lu-PSMA-617 remain limited. Methods: For this analysis, we utilized the Mayo Clinic Rochester radiopharmaceutical database, a prospectively maintained retrospective database containing all patients who received 177 Lu-PSMA-617 at our institution. We focused on patients who started treatment from March 2022 to March 2023. Patients receiving an ARPI (abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, apalutamide, or darolutamide) during the course of 177 Lu-PSMA-617 treatment were identified, inclusive of patients who continued using an ARPI prescribed as a prior line of treatment and those who started (i.e., switched) to a new ARPI. Baseline clinicopathologic and imaging characteristics were abstracted and compared using the Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests. Best PSA response during treatment was reported as a percent decline from baseline. Survival was calculated from the date of the first cycle of 177 Lu-PSMA-617. PSA50 response and overall survival (OS) outcomes for the two groups (concurrent use of ARPI vs. 177 Lu-PSMA-617 alone) were compared using the Chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier method, respectively. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed, including established prognostic factors. Results: An ARPI was prescribed to 106 of the 256 patients (41.4%) starting 177 Lu-PSMA-617 in the interval of March 2022 to March 2023. With regards to baseline characteristics, those receiving an ARPI concurrently with 177 Lu-PSMA-617 had a lower PSA (3.4 vs 29.7 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and a lower frequency of bone (77.4% vs. 87.4%, p = 0.035) and visceral metastases (18.9 vs 34%, p = 0.008) at start of treatment. Median follow-up for the overall cohort (IQR) was 19.1 months (8.7 – 23.6). Patients receiving an ARPI plus 177 Lu-PSMA-617, as compared to 177 Lu-PSMA-617 alone, were more likely to complete all 6 planned doses of treatment (63.2% vs. 48.7%, p < 0.001), though the PSA50 response rate was similar (49.1% vs 47.3%, p = 0.786). Median OS [95% CI] for the overall cohort was 21.3 [16.7 – 25.9] months and significantly longer for those receiving ARPI with 177 Lu-PSMA-617 (NR [NE – NE]) as compared to 177 Lu-PSMA-617 alone (15.3 mo [11.6 – 19.1], p < 0.001). However, on multivariate analysis including known prognostic variables, use of ARPI was not independently associated with improved survival (HR = 1.03 [CI: 0.68 to 1.55], p = 0.891). Conclusions: Patients receiving an ARPI with 177 Lu-PSMA-617 were more likely to complete all 6 cycles of treatment, but no clear differences in survival were observed on multivariate analysis.

121 Background: In the Phase 3 VISION trial, treatment with the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligand therapy [ 177 Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 ( 177 Lu-PSMA-617) + protocol-permitted standard of care (SoC) significantly improved median radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS; 8.7 vs 3.4 months [mo]) and overall survival (OS; 15.3 vs 11.3 mo) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) vs SoC alone. However, it is unclear how the addition of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) affected 177 Lu-PSMA-617 treatment outcomes. Here we compared the efficacy and safety of 177 Lu-PSMA-617 in patients treated with vs without concomitant ARPIs. Methods: In VISION, adult patients with PSMA-positive mCRPC previously treated with ≥1 prior ARPI and 1–2 taxane chemotherapy regimens were randomized 2:1 to receive 177 Lu-PSMA-617 (7.4 GBq Q6W, 4–6 cycles) + SoC (which included ARPIs) vs SoC alone. In this secondary analysis, we assessed baseline characteristics, OS, rPFS, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate, duration of PSA response, PSA-PFS, and safety among patients in the intervention arm who were treated with vs without concomitant ARPIs. Results: In total, 289 patients were treated with concomitant ARPIs and 262 patients were not (N=551). Imbalances between the groups were observed in some baseline characteristics: patients treated with concomitant ARPIs were younger, had lower ECOG performance scores, lower mean PSA and lactate dehydrogenase levels, and fewer prior taxane chemotherapy regimens. Baseline mean standardized [ 68 Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 uptake values and mean hemoglobin levels were well-balanced. A statistically significant difference in median OS was observed in patients treated with concomitant ARPIs vs those without (17.8 vs 12.4 mo; HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58–0.89; nominal P=0.001). No statistically significant between-group differences were observed for rPFS, PSA response rate, duration of PSA response or PSA-PFS. The proportion of adverse events reported was similar in patients with or without concurrent ARPI, except for the number of adverse events leading to interruption of best supportive care/SoC, which was higher in patients treated with concurrent ARPIs. Conclusions: OS was significantly different in patients treated with concomitant ARPIs vs those without, while other efficacy endpoints were not. No new safety signals were observed for 177 Lu-PSMA-617 with concomitant ARPI. These findings may be confounded by varied exposure to ARPIs, or differing patient characteristics; patients who received concomitant ARPIs may represent a more favorable treatment population than those who did not. These findings should be considered as hypothesis-generating, and a multivariate analysis has been planned to ascertain the influence of these potential biases. Clinical trial information: NCT03511664 .

Women with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer and have worse survival than non-diabetic women if they do develop breast cancer. However, more research is needed to elucidate the biological underpinnings of these relationships. Here, we found that forkhead box A1 (FOXA1), a forkhead family transcription factor, and metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride), a medication used to treat T2D, may impact hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC) tumor cell growth and metastasis. Indeed, fourteen diabetes-associated genes are highly expressed in only three HR+ breast cancer cell lines but not the other subtypes utilizing a 53,805 gene database obtained from NCBI GEO. Among the diabetes-related genes, FOXA1, MTA3, PAK4, FGFR3, and KIF22 were highly expressed in HR+ breast cancer from 4032 breast cancer patient tissue samples using the Breast Cancer Gene Expression Omnibus. Notably, elevated FOXA1 expression correlated with poorer overall survival in patients with estrogen-receptor-positive/progesterone-receptor-positive (ER+/PR+) breast cancer. Furthermore, experiments demonstrated that loss of the FOXA1 gene inhibited tumor proliferation and invasion in vitro using MCF-7 and T47D HR+ breast cancer cell lines. Metformin, an anti-diabetic medication, significantly suppressed tumor cell growth in MCF-7 cells. Additionally, either metformin treatment or FOXA1 gene deletion enhanced tamoxifen-induced tumor growth inhibition in HR+ breast cancer cell lines within an ex vivo three-dimensional (3D) organoid model. Therefore, the diabetes-related medicine metformin and FOXA1 gene inhibition might be a new treatment for patients with HR+ breast cancer when combined with tamoxifen, an endocrine therapy.

Prostate cancer lung metastasis represents a clinical conundrum due to its implications for advanced disease progression and the complexities it introduces in treatment planning. As the disease progresses to distant sites such as the lung, the clinical management becomes increasingly intricate, requiring tailored therapeutic strategies to address the unique characteristics of metastatic lesions. This review seeks to synthesize the current state of knowledge surrounding prostate cancer metastasis to the lung, shedding light on the diverse array of clinical presentations encountered, ranging from subtle radiological findings to overt symptomatic manifestations. By examining the diagnostic modalities utilized in identifying this metastasis, including advanced imaging techniques and histopathological analyses, this review aims to provide insights into the diagnostic landscape and the challenges associated with accurately characterizing lung metastatic lesions in prostate cancer patients. Moreover, this review delves into the nuances of therapeutic interventions employed in managing prostate cancer lung metastasis, encompassing systemic treatments such as hormonal therapies and chemotherapy, as well as metastasis-directed therapies including surgery and radiotherapy.