title: Folate receptor alpha antagonists in preclinical and early stage clinical development for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: The prognosis of patients affected by ovarian cancer has not substantially changed in the last decades and improving survival still remains a challenge. In the promising era of 'personalized therapy' several new biologic therapies are currently being investigated: in this setting, targeting the folate receptor (FR) has been considered a new potential strategy for biologic therapy. Areas covered: The aim of the current review is to summarize, giving a critical overview,promising folate receptor alpha antagonists under preclinical or early clinical development for ovarian cancer. Expert opinion: Two categories of therapeutics are included in this class: FRα targeted mAbs and FRα-binding-ADC (Antibody drug conjugates); both share the interesting possibility of selecting patients via a biomarker which is already available. In the first class, farletuzumab has reached the most advanced stage in clinical evaluation and results of a Phase II randomized trial are awaited to assess its efficacy in a specific patients' setting. MOv18 IgE represents a novel strategy to target FRα expressing cells, which has shown encouraging results in preclinical studies: further evaluation is needed in the clinical setting. IMGN 853 is an innovative FRα-binding ADC under development, with only preliminary results of a Phase I trial available.
authors: a Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit , Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital , Milano , Italy.
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Bergamini
authors: b Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST , Genova , Italy.|c Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI) , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Ferrero
authors: b Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST , Genova , Italy.|c Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI) , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Leone Roberti Maggiore
authors: b Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST , Genova , Italy.|c Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI) , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Scala
authors: a Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit , Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital , Milano , Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Pella
authors: d Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), Anatomic Pathology Unit , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors: Valerio Gaetano
authors: VG
authors: Vellone
authors: a Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit , Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital , Milano , Italy.
authors: Micaela
authors: M
authors: Petrone
authors: a Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit , Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital , Milano , Italy.
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Rabaiotti
authors: a Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit , Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital , Milano , Italy.
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: Cioffi
authors: a Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit , Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital , Milano , Italy.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Candiani
authors: a Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit , Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital , Milano , Italy.
authors: Giorgia
authors: G
authors: Mangili
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D058975:Folate Receptor 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008453:Maytansine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D058975:Folate Receptor 1; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D008453:Maytansine; C527484:farletuzumab; C000607289:mirvetuximab soravtansine
keywords: Farletuzumab; folate receptor; folate-conjugates; ovarian cancer; target therapies