Performance characteristics and relationship of PSA value/kinetics on carbon-11 acetate PET/CT imaging in biochemical relapse of prostate cancer.

An elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level alone cannot distinguish between local-regional recurrences and distant metastases after treatment with curative intent. With available salvage treatments, it has become important to localize the site of recurrence. 11C-Acetate PET/CT was performed in patients with rising PSA, with statistical analysis of detection rates, sites/location of detection, PSA kinetics and comparison with other tracers (FDG and Choline). Correlation to biopsy, subsequent imaging and PSA response to focal treatment was also performed. 88% (637) of 721 11C-Acetate PET/CT scans performed were positive. There was a statistically significant difference in PSA values between the positive and negative scans (P < 0.001 for mean difference) with the percentage of positive scans and PSA having a positive correlation. A PSA of 1.09 ng/mL was found to be an optimal cutoff. PSAdT was significantly correlated with a positive scan only when the PSA was < 1.0 ng/mL. For this subgroup, a PSAdT of < 3.8 months appeared significant (P < 0.05) as an optimal cutoff point. 11C-Acetate PET/CT demonstrates a high detection rate for the site of recurrence/metastasis in biochemical relapsed prostate cancer (88% overall detection rate, PPV 90.8%). This analysis suggests an optimal PSA threshold of > 1.09 ng/mL or a PSAdT of < 3.8 months when the PSA is below 1.0 ng/mL as independent predictors of positive findings.

A useful binary matrix for visible-MALDI of low molecular weight analytes.

In this work, a new absorbing candidate, rhodamine (R) 575, is described, which forms the basis of a binary matrix operating at 532 nm. Analyte ionization is found to be much more efficient when the dye is combined with a proton donor such as hydrochloric acid or alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, or a proton acceptor such as sodium hydroxide. This makes the matrix more generic than many others that have been tried. Furthermore, under visible illumination R575 produces very few chemical fragments, making it useful for small molecular weight analyte detection. Spectra for a variety of analytes are shown. Insight into the MALDI mechanism was obtained by comparing the similarities and differences of visible-MALDI with the more common UV and IR-MALDI strategies.