Improving quality of life in patients with metastatic prostate cancer following one cycle of 177Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy: a pilot study

Nuklearmedizin. 2020 Dec;59(6):409-414. doi: 10.1055/a-1234-5891. Epub 2020 Aug 21.

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic response of PSMA targeted radioligand therapy with 177Lu-PSMA-617 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The current study analyzed disease-related quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing PSMA therapy with a special focus on the association with simultaneous PSA response.

Methods: Thirty patients (age range 50-87 years, median 73.5 years) undergoing 177Lu-PSMA-617 therapy from 2014 to 2016 at our institution were included in this pilot study. Health-related QoL was assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire filled in at baseline and two months after initializing the PSMA-therapy. The treatment response was evaluated under three categories with regard to changes in (a) global health status and other functional scales, (b) disease-related symptoms, and (c) effects of PSA values.

Results: Most patients underwent three treatment cycles (n = 12); at least 2 cycles (n = 6) or at most 8 cycles (n = 1) were performed. Out of 30 cases, PSA response after the first cycle was observed in 73 % (n = 22). Compared to baseline, QoL was significantly improved at 2-month follow-up revealing increase in global health status (p = 0.025), role functioning (p = 0.017) and emotional functioning (0.010), and decrease in pain (p = 0.033). Global health status variation can be explained up to 20.5 % by response in PSA (p = 0.012), this improved with PSA reduction.

Conclusion: PSMA radioligand therapy seems to be an effective treatment option of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients as it improves their QoL in terms of increasing global health and mitigation of disease-related pain.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bone Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lutetium / pharmacology*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / radiotherapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / radiotherapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / pharmacology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Quality of Life
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • 177Lu-PSMA-617
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Lutetium
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen