Detecting recurrent prostate cancer remains one of the most difficult challenges in oncology, as standard imaging methods such as bone scans and CT scans often fail to accurately locate small or early-stage tumors. This diagnostic gap can delay precise treatment and reduce patients’ chances of recovery. Now, a multicenter study has revealed that prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) scanning can detect prostate cancer recurrence more effectively and improve survival outcomes.

The seven-year multicenter study, led by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI, London, ON, Canada), along with collaborators, was published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, and marks a major advancement in diagnostic imaging for prostate cancer.

PSMA PET scanning operates by introducing a radioactive molecule into the bloodstream, specifically engineered to target a protein found in prostate cancer cells. This molecule binds to the cells and emits detectable signals that allow physicians to visualize the exact location of cancer recurrence. The technique provides earlier and more precise detection compared to conventional imaging, enabling clinicians to pinpoint areas of recurrence that would otherwise go unnoticed.

The study reported that PSMA PET achieved a 70 per cent detection rate, significantly higher than the historical 10–20 per cent rates achieved by traditional bone or CT scans. Roughly half of the participants had their treatment plans altered based on PET findings, and among men with cancer detected by the scan, nearly 90 per cent experienced a change in disease management.

Most importantly, patients whose treatments were modified based on PSMA PET results demonstrated better overall survival rates compared to those evaluated with standard imaging. Following the study’s promising outcomes, PSMA PET scans are now funded as a standard of care for men with advanced prostate cancer in Ontario — marking a transformative shift in the management and monitoring of the disease.

“This new technique gives physicians the information needed to determine the best treatment,” said LHSCRI scientist Dr. Glenn Bauman. “When a blood test shows cancer has returned but standard imaging can’t find it, physicians may need to use less precise therapies like whole-body drug therapy. With this new imaging technique, we can locate the cancer and target it directly.”

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