Therapeutic strategies targeting folate receptor α for ovarian cancer

Jia Mai; Limei Wu; Ling Yang; Ting Sun; Xiaojuan Liu; Rutie Yin; Yongmei Jiang; Jinke Li; Qintong Li

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1254532

Therapeutic strategies targeting folate receptor α for ovarian cancer

Front Immunol. 2023 Aug 30:14:1254532. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1254532. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jia Mai¹, Limei Wu^{1

2}, Ling Yang¹, Ting Sun³, Xiaojuan Liu¹, Rutie Yin¹, Yongmei Jiang¹, Jinke Li¹, Qintong Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Development and Related Diseases of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
³ Department of Clinical Laboratory, The first Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the deadliest gynecological cancer, and presents a major clinical challenge due to limited treatment options. Folate receptor alpha (FRα), encoded by the FOLR1 gene, is an attractive therapeutically target due to its prevalent and high expression in EOC cells. Recent basic and translational studies have explored several modalities, such as antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, and folate-drug conjugate, to exploit FRα for EOC treatment. In this review, we summarize the function of FRα, and clinical efficacies of various FRα-based therapeutics. We highlight mirvetuximab soravtansine (MIRV), or Elahere (ImmunoGen), the first FRα-targeting ADC approved by the FDA to treat platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. We discuss potential mechanisms and management of ocular adverse events associated with MIRV administration.

Keywords: ADC; Elahere; FOLR1; MIRV; antibody-drug conjugate; folate receptor α; mirvetuximab soravtansine; ovarian cancer.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial / drug therapy
Eye
Female
Folate Receptor 1* / genetics
Humans
Ovarian Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Ovarian Neoplasms* / genetics

Substances

Folate Receptor 1
Antibodies, Monoclonal
FOLR1 protein, human

Grants and funding

We thank the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31971141 and 32271348), the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (2021YJ0012 and 2022YFS0242), and Sichuan University (23H0221 and 23H0222).