The folate receptor (FR) is overexpressed by many different cancer types, including renal cell carcinoma. Besides helping in the diagnosis of cancer, a folate-targeted imaging agent could provide an effective method to identify folate receptor-positive (FR+) cancer patients that may benefit from folate-targeted therapy. Up to 40 subjects, with known or strongly suspected metastatic renal cell carcinoma with at least one target lesion detected by a diagnostic imaging procedure (e.g. ultrasonography, CT, or MRI), will be enrolled in this study.
The investigational new drug (FolateScan or Technetium Tc 99m EC20) is a folate-targeted diagnostic radiopharmaceutical designed to bind to the folate receptor. The folate receptor is a glycoprotein that is over-expressed in many types of cancer cells but it is only minimally distributed in normal tissues. Folate conjugates bind to the folate receptor with high affinity and are brought into the cell via endocytosis. In contrast, folic acid itself enters most normal cells via the reduced folate carrier, a pathway entirely inaccessible to folate conjugates. Therefore, these folate conjugates are specific to cancer cells. Endocyte's folate-targeted delivery system was applied towards the targeting of a diagnostic imaging agent (111In-DTPA-Folate) to ovarian cancer tumors. This proof-of-principle study was designed to demonstrate the ability of folate to target drugs to folate-receptor-positive (FR+) cancer tissue.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.