Issue 4, 2018

Advances in targeting the folate receptor in the treatment/imaging of cancers

Abstract

The folate receptor (FR) is a recognised biomarker for tumour cells due to its overexpression on a large number of tumours. Consequently, the FR has been exploited by many diagnostic and therapeutic tools to allow targeted delivery to, and imaging of, cancer cells. Herein, we describe the many different approaches by which this has been achieved, including the attachment of folate to potent chemotherapeutic drugs to form FR-targeting small molecule–drug conjugates (SMDCs), FR-targeting antibodies (as antibody alone and as an antibody–drug conjugate), and in the form of complementary nanotechnology–folate platforms; as well as imaging variants thereof. The potential of exploiting the FR for targeted therapy/imaging has the potential to revolutionise the way several cancers are treated. These FR-targeted technologies can also pave the way for inspiring further sophisticated drug conjugates, especially as this receptor is being targeted by use of several complementary technologies: small molecule, nanoparticle and protein-based – thus providing broad and distinct knowledge in the area.

Graphical abstract: Advances in targeting the folate receptor in the treatment/imaging of cancers

Article information

Article type
Minireview
Submitted
12 Sep 2017
Accepted
15 Dez 2017
First published
18 Dez 2017
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 790-810

Advances in targeting the folate receptor in the treatment/imaging of cancers

M. Fernández, F. Javaid and V. Chudasama, Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 790 DOI: 10.1039/C7SC04004K

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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