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VARIOUS › DIAGNOSTIC RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS › TUMOUR DETECTION › Technetium (99mTc) compounds
technetium (99mTc) etarfolatide
V09IA08
Forms & Strengths
- Kit for the preparation of technetium Tc 99m etarfolatide injection
- Lyophilized powder in a single-dose vial containing 0.1 mg etarfolatide
Adult Dosing
- Diagnostic imaging: 50 mcg (micrograms) of etarfolatide radiolabeled with 15 to 25 mCi (555 to 925 MBq) of Technetium-99m administered as a single intravenous injection
- Imaging typically performed 1 to 2 hours post-injection
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established
- Not recommended for use in patients under 18 years of age
Indications
- Diagnostic radiopharmaceutical indicated for use in conjunction with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT imaging
- Detection of folate receptor-positive (FR+) metastases in patients with recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer
Mechanism of Action
- Etarfolatide is a folate conjugate that binds with high affinity to folate receptor alpha (FR-alpha)
- FR-alpha is frequently overexpressed on the surface of epithelial malignancies, including ovarian cancer cells
- Radiolabeling with Technetium-99m allows visualization of FR-expressing tumors via gamma camera or SPECT imaging
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to etarfolatide, folate, or any component of the formulation
- Pregnancy
Adverse Reactions
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Injection site reactions
- Transient flushing
- Hypersensitivity and anaphylactoid reactions
Drug Interactions
- Folic acid supplementation or high-folate diets may competitively bind to folate receptors, potentially decreasing the uptake of technetium Tc 99m etarfolatide and reducing imaging sensitivity
- Antifolate medications (e.g., methotrexate) may theoretically interfere with binding, though specific clinical interaction studies are limited
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use