F-choline PET in early response assessment for castration-resistant prostatic cancer (PRECHOL)

Introduction. - The therapeutic response (TR) of patients treated for cancer castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains difficult to assess, because bone metastases are predominant. We present a pilot study and its preliminary results whose the aim is assessing if positron emission tomography with fluoro-choline (FCH-PET) could have a role in the evaluation of TR. Materials and methods. - PRECHOL is a prospective study whose primary endpoint is the sensitivity and specificity of FCH-PET at 6 weeks of response to 12 weeks of treatment in patients with CRPC. Each patient has an FCH-PET before and at 6 weeks (PET2) of treatment in addition to the standard evaluation criteria of the Prostate Clinic Working Group 2 (PCWG2) (pain, PSA and bone scan). Results. - The study has opened on December 10, 2013 and plans to include 31 patients over 2 years at the University Hospital of Grenoble and Daniel-Hollard Institute (Grenoble). In July 2014, seven patients are included, and 6 were evaluated at 12 weeks of treatment. All PET2 performed at 6 weeks of treatment were predictive of RT to 12 weeks according to qualitative criteria (visual analysis). Conclusions. - This is the first pilot study referenced offering FCH-PET as an early marker of TR in CRPC. Initial results are promising and the study is worth pursuing. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.