Abstract
Folate receptor (FR) can be used as a therapeutic target because of its expression on different epithelial cancers, such as ovarian, non-small cell lung, endometrial, and breast cancer. Assessing FR expression in tumors may help to identify patients who can benefit from FR-targeted therapeutics, such as vintafolide and farletuzumab. Different methods exist to detect FR expression. Tissue sampling has limited clinical utility, mainly because it requires an invasive procedure. (99m)Tc-etarfolatide, a (99m)Tc-labeled folate conjugate, is in late-phase trials in Europe and the United States. It allows noninvasive, whole-body imaging of the FR. This review focuses on this FR-imaging agent and how it may be used to direct FR-targeted therapy.
Keywords:
99mTc-etarfolatide; SPECT; SPECT/CT; folate receptor; imaging.
MeSH terms
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Contrast Media / chemistry*
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Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / metabolism*
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Folic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
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Folic Acid / chemistry
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Folic Acid / therapeutic use
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Humans
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Inflammation
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Neoplasm Staging
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Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Organotechnetium Compounds / chemistry*
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Positron-Emission Tomography
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Technetium / chemistry*
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Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
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Vinca Alkaloids / therapeutic use
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Whole Body Imaging
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Contrast Media
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EC145
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Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
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Organotechnetium Compounds
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Vinca Alkaloids
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technetium 99m etarfolatide
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farletuzumab
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Technetium
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Folic Acid