Carbon-11 Acetate and Fludeoxyglucose F 18 PET Scan of the Bone in Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer That Has Spread to the Bone

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of prostate cancer, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  • Metastatic hormone-sensitive disease prior to initiation of first-line androgen-deprivation therapy and meets the following criteria:

    • Histologic confirmation of original diagnosis
    • Hormone-sensitive is defined as progressive disease in the absence of androgen-deprivation therapy
    • Presence of ≥ 3 convincing bone metastases, as defined by bone scintigraphy, CT scan (MRI if indicated), or plain x-ray

  • Metastatic hormone-refractory disease prior to initiation of a first-line chemotherapy regimen that includes docetaxel and meets the following criteria:

    • Histologic confirmation of original diagnosis
    • Hormone-refractory is defined as development or advancement of metastatic disease with castrate testosterone levels (total testosterone \< 20 ng/dL)
    • Presence of ≥ 3 convincing bone metastases, as defined by bone scintigraphy, CT scan (MRI if indicated), or plain x-ray

    • Must have castrate testosterone levels (\< 20 ng/dL) from orchiectomy or undergoing maintenance with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist

      • Outside the window of a potential antiandrogen withdrawal response (either decline in prostate-specific antigen or objective response by imaging)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Life expectancy > 12 weeks
• No serious underlying medical condition that would otherwise impair the patient's ability to receive treatment and undergo imaging studies
• No condition that would alter the patient's mental status, prohibiting the basic understanding and/or authorization of informed consent
• Able to lie still for the imaging
• Weight ≤ 300 lbs

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide or nilutamide
• At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide, ketoconazole, diethylstilbestrol, or estradiol
• More than 4 weeks since prior bisphosphonate therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the bone
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiopharmaceutical treatment to the bone
• No concurrent radiotherapy