Folate receptor and its application in the selective receptor-mediated targeting therapy of tumor cells--review / 中国实验血液学杂志

ABSTRACT

A series of receptors expressed in the surface of tumor cells, which are able to mediate internalizing effect by specially connecting with corresponding ligands. These receptors are potential targets for drugs combined with conjugates. So the drug-conjugate compounds can be targeted delivery to tumor cells. The folate receptor is a promising target because of its marrow tissue specificity, its overexpression in malignant tissues, especially in myeloid leukemic cells, and its ability to bind and internalize folic acid conjugates. It is a promising potential method to apply folate receptor in the receptor-mediated targeting therapy of leukemic cells. In this review, the biological features of folate receptor, its chromosome location and its interaction with ligands, the distribution characteristics of folate receptor in normal and tumor tissues, especially in myeloid leukemic cells, and progress of research on folate receptor mediated targeting tumor cells, especially leukemic cells were summarized.