folate-fluorescein

Folate-fluorescein (also known as EC17 or UB-TT170) is a folate receptor-targeted small molecule conjugate consisting of folic acid (folate) covalently linked to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). It was originally developed by Endocyte (in collaboration with Purdue University) as a folate-targeted hapten immunotherapy (to direct anti-fluorescein antibodies to folate receptor-expressing cancer cells) and as an intraoperative fluorescent imaging agent to guide surgical resection of folate receptor-alpha (FRα)-expressing tumors, such as ovarian, lung, breast, and renal cell cancers. More recently, Umoja Biopharma has been developing the molecule (designated UB-TT170) as a 'TumorTag' adapter to target and label folate receptor-expressing tumor cells, marking them for recognition and destruction by fluorescein-specific (anti-FITC) CAR T cells. Folate-fluorescein binds with high affinity to folate receptors (primarily FOLR1 and FOLR2) overexpressed on cancer cells, allowing rapid tumor penetration and selective retention.

Other names

folate fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugatefolate-FITCfolate-FITC conjugatefolate-fluorescein conjugatefolate-hapten conjugate