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.

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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
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article

PSMA PET/CT–Targeted Biopsy in Men with Negative or Equivocal Multiparametric MRI and Exploratory Dynamic Total-Body PET: The FUPERMAN Study

Cristina Mosconi, Riccardo Mei, Caterina Gaudiano, Paolo Castellucci et al.
Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
article

PSMA PET/CT–Targeted Biopsy in Men with Negative or Equivocal Multiparametric MRI and Exploratory Dynamic Total-Body PET: The FUPERMAN Study

Cristina Mosconi, Riccardo Mei, Caterina Gaudiano, Paolo Castellucci, Matteo Droghetti, F. Romei, Massimiliano Presutti, Irene Brusa, Daniele Dall’Olio, Beniamino Corcioni, Andrea Farolfi, Riccardo Schiavina, Andrea Di Giorgio, Stefano Fanti, Caterina Maria Paola Sgro, Lorenzo Bianchi
article en

Abstract

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.

Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Azienda USL di Bologna (IT), University of Bologna (IT)
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
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