Differential Expression Of Psma And 18f-Fluciclovine Transporter Genes In Metastatic Castrate-Resistant And Treatment-Emergent Small Cell/Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer

24 Background: 18F-fluciclovine (Axumin) PET/CT imaging is recommended by the NCCN in the setting of biochemical recurrence, while prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT is preferred by the EAU. The utility of these methods in the post-androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) setting however, is less defined. Our objective was to compare relative gene expression of the molecular targets of these imaging modalities— fluciclovine transporter genes (LAT1-4, ASCT1-2) and PSMA—in metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and treatment-emergent small cell/neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-SCNC). Methods: Genome-wide expression profiles of five mCRPC cohorts (Aggarwal, Grasso, Kumar, Beltran, Robinson, et al) were used to characterize relative expression of fluciclovine transporter (LAT1-4, ASC1-2) and PSMA (FOLH1) genes. 3 cohorts (Kumar, Beltran, Aggarwal) were enriched with t-SCNC tumors. The GSE35988 cohort included primary tumors and mCRPC. RNA expression profiling methods were consistent within cohorts. Results: 518 mCRPC specimens were included. In the GSE35988 cohort, PSMA expression was downregulated in mCRPC when compared to primary localized tumors (p=0.01). PSMA expression was further depressed in t-SCNC when compared with mCRPC (p<0.001). Of the fluciclovine transporter genes, LAT1 and LAT4 were overexpressed in mCRPC when compared to primary tumors, while ASC2 was less expressed (p<0.001). LAT1 was further overexpressed in t-SCNC when compared to mCRPC, while LAT2 was less expressed (p<0.001). PSMA expression was negatively correlated with LAT1 (p<0.001) but positively correlated with LAT2 (p=0.006). Other fluciclovine transporters were not correlated. Conclusions: Expression of PSMA and a subset of fluciclovine transporter genes are inversely correlated in mCRPC and t-SCNC. These findings suggest that fluciclovine-based imaging may play a role in castrate resistant states. Clinical comparison between PSMA- and fluciclovine-based imaging modalities in mCRPC and t-SCNC is warranted.