Folate receptor-mediated Therapeutics and Imaging
Lokesh Chandra Mishra1, Jyotsna Gupta2, Satyam Ravi Dwivedi3 and Gauri Mishra4*
1Department of Zoology, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India
2Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh-160012, India
3Department of Zoology, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi-110075, India
4Department of Zoology, Swami Shraddhanand College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110036, India
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Before a probable treatment approach is adopted based on early-stage diagnosis, there is a requirement for specific constructive and efficacious strategies. Identifying solid tumors through targeted detection of cancerous cells is one of the most reliable approaches to treatment. Over the past decade, the investigation of folate receptors (FR) has led to the development of several novel cancer treatments. Many tumor types exhibit high overexpression of FR, which was found to be associated with tumor progression and prognosis. Monitoring FR expression levels can prove a useful criterion as it is correlated with the advancement and prognosis of tumors. Due to the strong affinity of the FR towards folate and folate-conjugates, it can be designated as a tumor-associated antigen that is involved in the active transportation of the bound cargo within cells through an endocytic process. A wide range of payloads, from tiny radioactive imaging agents up to massive DNA-containing formulations, may be delivered to FR-positive cells using folate or an analog of it as the ligand. The FR targeting anticancer therapies are being developed currently and the response-predictive aspect of FR expression could serve as a biomarker for these treatments. By boosting delivery to the target tissue as well as an improved target-non-target tissue ratio, targeted drug delivery systems aim to increase the therapeutic windows of molecules. In turn, this results in a decreased minimum effective dose of the drug, lower drug toxicity, and improved treatment efficacy at comparable plasma concentrations. Targeted delivery is especially appealing for drugs with small therapeutic windows and/or those activated at very low concentrations due to the few targeted receptor sites on the specified target tissue. This review discusses recent developments in FR-mediated targeting for therapeutics and its applications in imaging, as well as highlights their potential and anticipated challenges.
Keywords: cancer, folate receptor, folic acid, anticancer therapy, tumor marker, endocytosis
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Gauri Mishra
E-mail address: gaurishukla1@gmail.com
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37756/bk/23.5.7.1
Article type: Review
Received: April 8, 2023
Revised: June 1, 2023
Accepted: June 2, 2023
Please cite this article as: Mishra LC et. al., Folate receptor-mediated Therapeutics and Imaging. Biotechnol. kiosk, Vol 5, Issue 7, PP: 1-13 (2023); DOI: https://doi.org/10.37756/bk/23.5.7.1