Design of a research project

For the diagnosis of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer fluorine-18 labeled Choline PET/CT has been used in Spain which has a variable detection rate and is subject to PSA values prior to the study. It has been known for some years that Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed in most prostate cancers and represents an ideal molecular target for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In the last decade a new radiopharmaceutical 18F-DCFPyL has been developed that binds to the extracellular domain of PSMA and may allow a more sensitive and accurate method for the detection of early tumor recurrence. Currently in Spain 18F-DCFPyL is being used as a drug in special situations and is not yet authorized for marketing. It would be important to establish the diagnostic value of this radiopharmaceutical that will allow greater diagnostic accuracy.