title: Imaging the folate receptor on cancer cells with 99mTc-etarfolatide: properties, clinical use, and future potential of folate receptor imaging.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Temple University Hospital and School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elsinga
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanti
authors.forename: Binh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Wim J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Oyen
authors.forename: Wolfgang A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / Q000378:metabolism*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013667:Technetium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; C520389:EC145; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids; C000588984:technetium 99m etarfolatide; C527484:farletuzumab; D013667:Technetium; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: 99mTc-etarfolatide; SPECT; SPECT/CT; folate receptor; imaging