Juliano J Cerci, Stefano Fanti, Ken Herrmann, Denise Ferreira Rodrigues, Pedro Henrique Furst Leite, Margaret Masukawa, Marcelo Moreira da Silva, Wolfgang P Fendler, Adriano Goncalves E Silva, Elise Nara Sanfelice, Walter Ayelet, Fabio Ghetti, Andrea Bascioni, Enrique E Estrado Lobato, Diana Paez
Real-world disparities in access to PSMA-targeted theranostics are poorly characterized. We compared waiting times for PSMA PET/CT and 177Lu-PSMA therapy between centers in Brazil and Europe. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included 91 patients (50 from Brazil, 41 from Europe) treated with 177Lu-PSMA. Outcomes were days from request to PSMA PET/CT completion (diagnostic access) and days from request to first therapy dose (therapeutic access). Groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Diagnostic access was similar between Brazil (median, 17.5 d; interquartile range [IQR], 9-34 d) and Europe (median, 19 d; IQR, 14-23 d; P = 0.39). Therapeutic access was significantly delayed in Brazil (median, 59 d; IQR, 54.5-91) compared with Europe (median, 21 d; IQR, 17-31 d; P < 0.01), representing a 2.8-fold longer wait. Conclusion: Despite comparable access to PSMA PET/CT, initiation of 177Lu-PSMA therapy is nearly 3 times slower in Brazil than in Europe. Closing the therapeutic access gap requires targeted investments in radiopharmaceutical supply chains and regulatory efficiency.