Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Automated Preparation of [68Ga]Ga-3BP-3940 on a Synthesis Module for PET Imaging of the Tumor Microenvironment
10:33

Automated Preparation of [68Ga]Ga-3BP-3940 on a Synthesis Module for PET Imaging of the Tumor Microenvironment

Published on: April 25, 2025

Targeting therapeutic and imaging agents to folate receptor positive tumors

J A Reddy1, V M Allagadda, C P Leamon

  • 1Endocyte, Inc., 1205 Kent Ave., West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA.

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
|April 28, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Folate receptor (FR) targeting delivers anti-cancer agents directly to tumors, enhancing specificity. This technology shows promise for improving cancer treatment safety and effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Drug Delivery

Background:

  • Membrane-bound folate receptor (FR) is overexpressed in various human cancers, including ovarian, lung, breast, endometrial, kidney, and brain cancers.
  • Folic acid, a high-affinity ligand for FR, maintains receptor-binding properties when conjugated to other molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current status of folate-targeted technology for cancer therapy.
  • To highlight recent advancements and future directions in FR-targeted drug delivery.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on folate-targeted delivery systems.
  • Analysis of applications in delivering various therapeutic and diagnostic agents to FR-positive cancers.

Main Results:

  • Folate-targeted technology has been successfully applied to deliver diverse agents, including toxins, chemotherapeutics, imaging agents, and gene vectors.
  • Targeted delivery systems demonstrate significantly enhanced cancer cell specificity and selectivity compared to non-targeted formulations.

Conclusions:

  • Folate-targeted strategies offer a promising approach to improve the safety and efficacy of anti-cancer agents.
  • Continued research and development in this field hold potential for significant clinical impact in cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis06:35

An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis

Published on: February 8, 2019

Surface-enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Nanoprobe Ratiometry for Detecting Microscopic Ovarian Cancer via Folate Receptor Targeting07:54

Surface-enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Nanoprobe Ratiometry for Detecting Microscopic Ovarian Cancer via Folate Receptor Targeting

Published on: March 25, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.