title: Vintafolide (EC145) for the treatment of folate-receptor-α positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
abstract: Seminal advances in the treatment of cancer have been achieved because of drug development in ovarian cancer; notably the developments of platinums and taxanes. However, no new drug has been FDA approved for ovarian cancer since 2006, and the approval of an antiangiogenic agent for ovarian cancer in the US has stalled. Predicting the next breakthrough is a high risk and highly expensive venture. One of the most promising prospects is folate-receptor (FR)-targeted therapy, given the high expression in FR ovarian cancer. We review the development of vintafolide (EC145), a folic acid-desacetylvinblastine conjugate, the predictive utility of a FR-targeted imaging agent, technetium-(99)m-etarfolatide (EC20), the challenges in proving survival advantage, and other approaches to exploiting FR as a target in ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology Oncology, Yawkey 9-064, Massachusetts General Hospital, 32 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suzin
authors.forename: Edwin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Penson
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D058975:Folate Receptor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: C520389:EC145; D058975:Folate Receptor 1; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: EC145; EC20; chemotherapy; etarfolatide; novel