Gallium 68 PSMA-11, is the first drug for PET imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen–positive lesions in patients with prostate cancer.
The drug is indicated for patients with suspected prostate cancer metastases who are potentially curable via surgery or radiation therapy.
It is also indicated for those with suspected prostate cancer recurrence based on elevated serum prostate-specific antigen levels.
The PET imaging drug is a radioactive diagnostic that is given via an intravenous injection.
Ga 68 PSMA-11 binds to PSMA, which is known to be a critical pharmacologic target for imaging in this disease, as cancer cells typically contain higher levels of this antigen.
Interfaced be diagnostic efficacy trial, men with intermediate to high risk prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy and lymph node dissection, the sensitivity and specificity of GA-PSMA – 11 PET were 0.4 and 0.95, respectively. respectively.
The radioactive agent releases positrons and can be imaged by PET to identify PSMA-positive lesions in tissue within the body.
Ga 68 PSMA-11 was investigated in 2 clinical trials that collectively enrolled 960 patients with prostate cancer; these patients were each given 1 injection of the PET imaging agent.
It is associated with no serious reactions: adverse reactions to the PET imaging drug comprised nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness.
Contributes to overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure; this has been linked with increased cancer risk.