Fluorine-18-Labeled Fluciclovine PET/CT in Clinical Practice: Factors Affecting the Rate of Detection of Recurrent Prostate Cancer.

Abstract

<b>OBJECTIVE.</b> The purpose of this study is to show the performance and evaluate the factors influencing the positivity rate (PR) of commercially produced ¹⁸F-fluciclovine PET/CT in the detection of recurrent prostate cancer in clinical practice. <b>MATERIALS AND METHODS.</b> We performed a retrospective cohort study of 152 men who had suspected biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after receiving initial treatment and underwent fluciclovine PET/CT. PRs were calculated for whole-body, prostate and prostate bed, and extraprostatic locations. The influence of different factors, such as the absolute prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, PSA kinetics, the Gleason score, and Gleason grade groups, on the PR was evaluated. <b>RESULTS.</b> The overall PR was 81% (123/152) for the whole body, 61% (92/152) for the prostate and prostate bed, and 55% (83/152) for extraprostatic locations. There was a linear increase in the PR with an increasing PSA level (<i>p</i> < 0.001). For the whole body, the PR for PSA levels of less than 1 ng/mL, 1 to less than 2 ng/mL, 2 to less than 5 ng/mL, and 5 or more ng/mL were 58% (32/55), 87% (13/15), 100% (39/39), and 92% (35/38), respectively. No statistically significant linear trend was found between the PR and the PSA level doubling time (<i>p</i> > 0.05). In addition, no statistically significant linear trend was found between the PR and increasing Gleason grade group. However, for every 1-unit increase in a patient's Gleason score, the odds of a positive finding in the extraprostatic location increased by 49% (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>CONCLUSION.</b> Commercially produced fluciclovine PET/CT has a high PR for detection of prostate cancer recurrence and is positively correlated with increasing PSA levels. For extraprostatic disease, the PR increases with higher Gleason scores.