A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal
More Than Meets the Eye: Scientific Rationale behind Molecular Imaging and Therapeutic Targeting of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) in Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Beyond
Authors: Hyväkkä Anniina, Virtanen Verneri, Kemppainen Jukka, Grönroos Tove J., Minn Heikki, Sundvall Maria
Publisher: MDPI
Publishing place: Basel
Publication year: 2021
Journal: Cancers
Journal name in source: CANCERS
Journal acronym: CANCERS
Article number: ARTN 2244
Volume: 13
Issue: 9
Number of pages: 24
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13092244
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/59729558
Simple SummaryProstate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane protein that is overexpressed in prostate cancer and correlates with the aggressiveness of the disease. PSMA is a promising target for imaging and therapeutics in prostate cancer patients validated in prospective trials. However, the role of PSMA in prostate cancer progression is poorly understood. In this review, we discuss the biology and scientific rationale behind the use of PSMA and other targets in the detection and theranostics of metastatic prostate cancer.Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer type in men globally. Although the prognosis for localized prostate cancer is good, no curative treatments are available for metastatic disease. Better diagnostic methods could help target therapies and improve the outcome. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is overexpressed on malignant prostate tumor cells and correlates with the aggressiveness of the disease. PSMA is a clinically validated target for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging-based diagnostics in prostate cancer, and during recent years several therapeutics have been developed based on PSMA expression and activity. The expression of PSMA in prostate cancer can be very heterogeneous and some metastases are negative for PSMA. Determinants that dictate clinical responses to PSMA-targeting therapeutics are not well known. Moreover, it is not clear how to manipulate PSMA expression for therapeutic purposes and develop rational treatment combinations. A deeper understanding of the biology behind the use of PSMA would help the development of theranostics with radiolabeled compounds and other PSMA-based therapeutic approaches. Along with PSMA several other targets have also been evaluated or are currently under investigation in preclinical or clinical settings in prostate cancer. Here we critically elaborate the biology and scientific rationale behind the use of PSMA and other targets in the detection and therapeutic targeting of metastatic prostate cancer.
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