PSMA PET/CT scan detects aggressive prostate cancer earlier | ICT & health

Recently, Joris Heetman, a urologist trainee at St. Antonius, his PhD for his research into new, sophisticated ways to detect prostate cancer. One of the topics in his PhD research was the question of whether the PSMA PET/CT scan can detect more aggressive prostate cancer cells. Tumor cells not detected by MRI or biopsy.

The PSMA PET/CT scan uses a radioactive substance that binds to tumor tissue. During his research, Heetman managed to find aggressive tumor cells in one out of eleven (9%) patients in this way. The A PhD student completed therefore, research with a PSMA PET/CT scan is valuable. More research is needed to directly confirm the added value. Research and radiation costs must be taken into account.

Finding ‘hidden’ tumor tissue

In any case, Heetman’s research shows that the PSMA PET/CT scan method has proven to be able to detect tumors that would otherwise go unnoticed and may only be seen at later stage, when the cancer is more advanced.

In his research, the PhD candidate also says that urologists can do more with data from blood tests and biopsies. Before this, he researched numerical models, called nomograms, which can be used to predict the likelihood of a tumor spreading beyond the prostate. This information is valuable to save the nerves around the prostate during surgery and thus reduce the risk of unpleasant treatment side effects – such as impotence and erection problems.

Research and new methods

At St. Antonius Hospital, urologists have access to advanced equipment for the treatment and research of prostate cancer. Experts are also doing more and more scientific research into better diagnosis and treatment methods. The hospital has become one of the most advanced centers in the Netherlands in the field of prostate cancer care. “When I started in 2021, there were two researchers in Urology, now that number has more than doubled,” said Heetman.

This summer has been introduced Prostate Cancer Center in St Antonius Hospital two new techniques used during operations to remove the prostate. Urethral enlargement technique and the so-called ‘hood’ method, in which connective tissue around the prostate is left intact. Operations in which the surgeons are assisted by the Da Vinci surgical robot. These new techniques ensure that patients become completely continent again more quickly after surgery and that they can get up again more quickly.

Double age

There is a greater need for this knowledge and new methods of diagnosis and treatment. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, with 13,500 new diagnoses and approximately 3,000 deaths each year. More than one and a half times more than at the end of the last century. The so-called double aging population is largely responsible for this. There are more and more elderly people, who are also getting older. In line with the aging population, the IKNL has calculated that the number of deaths from prostate cancer has halved since the end of the last century.