PSMA PET/CT–Targeted Biopsy in Men with Negative or Equivocal Multiparametric MRI and Exploratory Dynamic Total-Body PET: The FUPERMAN Study
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT may enhance detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in men with negative or equivocal multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), a setting where diagnostic uncertainty persists. This study assessed the diagnostic performance of PSMA PET/CT–guided targeted biopsy (PET-TB) versus systematic biopsy (SB) and explored the value of semiquantitative (SUV<sub>max</sub>) and dynamic total-body PET parameters in predicting csPCa. <b>Methods:</b> This is a prospective, single-center study that enrolled 63 men with PI-RADS 2–3 mpMRI findings between March 2023 and July 2025. All underwent [<sup>68</sup>Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT followed by transperineal prostate biopsy. A subset of 11 patients underwent dynamic total-body PET. The primary endpoint was detection of csPCa (International Society of Urological Pathology score of ≥2). We compared diagnostic yields of PET-TB and SB, evaluated predictors via logistic regression, and analyzed dynamic PET data using kinetic modeling. <b>Results:</b> PET-TB detected significantly more csPCa than did SB (37% vs. 21%; <i>P</i> = 0.021), achieving a sensitivity of 96%, a specificity of 49%, a positive predictive value of 57%, and a negative predictive value of 95%. Combining PET-TB with SB increased the csPCa detection rate to 41%. SUV<sub>max</sub> independently predicted csPCa (odds ratio, 51.2; 95% CI, 5.6–2713.9; <i>P</i> = 0.015), with a threshold of 11.4 yielding 100% specificity. In dynamic PET analysis, csPCa showed irreversible kinetics, and <i>K<sub>i</sub></i>/<i>k</i><sub>3</sub> parameters improved lesion discrimination beyond SUV, especially in equivocal (PRIMARY score 3) lesions. <b>Conclusion:</b> PSMA PET/CT–guided targeted biopsy enhances csPCa detection in men with negative or equivocal mpMRI, with added predictive value from SUV<sub>max</sub> and dynamic PET metrics. These promising findings should be validated in larger multicenter trials.
Authors
- Cristina Mosconi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6822-9053)
- Riccardo Mei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3267-1891)
- Caterina Gaudiano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3849-8428)
- Paolo Castellucci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9215-7579)
- Matteo Droghetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9190-4691)
- F. Romei
- Massimiliano Presutti
- Irene Brusa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1959-4692)
- Daniele Dall’Olio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0196-6870)
- Beniamino Corcioni
- Andrea Farolfi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5443-4301)
- Riccardo Schiavina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4679-8196)
- Andrea Di Giorgio
- Stefano Fanti
- Caterina Maria Paola Sgro
- Lorenzo Bianchi
Institutions
- Azienda USL di Bologna (IT)
- University of Bologna (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Nuclear Medicine
- Published
- 2026-07-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.126.272108
- Primary Topic
- Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00