Low accrual

Evaluate the ability of 18F-FCH PET/MRI scan to detect pre-treatment tumor burden and assess response to treatment in men with castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

It is hypothesized that these novel biomarkers will better identify evaluable lesions prior to therapy and identify response to treatment (or lack thereof) earlier in the treatment period, providing a better guide for treating men with CRPC.

Castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) occurs when prostate cancer no longer responds to androgen deprivation therapy. Eventually all men diagnosed with CRPC will succumb to their disease. While many new therapies have been introduced, there are limitations in assessing treatment response and physicians are faced with a challenge when creating a management strategy for men with CRPC.

Most men present with bone metastases, and accurate quantification of disease burden can be difficult due to the nature of conventional scans such as CT and bone scan. In addition, the standard blood PSA measurement does not always reflect a clinical response, or may lag to show this response. There is a clear need for better imaging and blood biomarkers to measure disease in men with CRPC.

This study will explore the benefit of a 18F-FCH Hybrid PET/MRI scan, Cancer Microparticle (CMP) and Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) measurements compared to standard imaging and PSA levels.

In this study, patients will receive a 18F-FCH PET/MRI or 18F-FCH PET/CT scan + whole body MRI at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Serial CMP and CTC blood samples will be taken at 5 study timepoints.

66 patients will be enrolled at 3 cancer centres in Ontario. Patients will be divided into 2 cohorts based on the type of treatment they will receive: Docetaxel or Abiraterone.

It is hypothesized that these novel biomarkers will better identify evaluable lesions prior to therapy and identify response to treatment (or lack thereof) earlier in the treatment period thus providing a better guide for treating men with CRPC.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Patient with CRPC and experiencing disease progression as defined by PCWG2
• ECOG 0-2
• Must continue gonadal castrative therapy
• Has completed antiandrogen withdrawal ≥ 6 weeks prior to registration
• Metastatic disease documented by imaging
• Patient is planned for treatment with docetaxel or abiraterone
• If treated with bisphosphonates or denosumab, has been on these for ≥ 6 weeks.
• Must provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior history of invasive malignant disease unless disease free for at least 5 years, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer
• Planned for any concurrent anticancer treatment oher than docetaxel or abiraterone
• Prior radiotherapy or surgery within 4 weeks of start of docetaxel or abiraterone
• Inability to comply with the imaging requirements (eg. inability to lie supine for one hour)
• Allergy to MRI contrast agent or PET tracer to be used as part of the imaging
• Sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies
• Insufficient renal function (eGFR ≤ 30 mL/min)
• Known residual bladder volume > 150 cc
• Hip prosthesis or intrabdominal vascular grafting
• Contraindication to CT contrast
• Contraindication to MRI as per institutional policy