Next Generation Imaging: Impact on Postprostatectomy Salvage Therapy

After radical prostatectomy 20% to 40% of patients have detectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA), indicating the potential presence of residual prostate cancer. Although most patients with “biochemical failure” do not die of prostate cancer, some subsets are at substantial risk for systemic progression and death. Radiotherapy at the time of a detectable PSA concentration — referred to as salvage radiotherapy — has the potential to provide long-term disease control, but many patients with micrometastatic disease that is not visualized by conventional imaging (computed tomography and bone scan imaging) do not benefit from this approach.

Investigators conducted a single center, open-label phase 2/3 trial to assess the utility of the addition …