SPECT study of folate receptor-positive malignant and normal tissues in mice using a novel 99mTc-radiofolate

The folate receptor (FR) is overexpressed on epithelial cancers (FR-alpha) and on activated, but not resting, macrophages (FR-beta) involved in a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, folate-based radiopharmaceuticals have the potential to be used as imaging agents of FR-positive tumor and inflammatory cells. In this study SPECT/CT of FR-positive malignant and normal tissues and organs in mice was performed using an improved organometallic (99m)Tc-radiofolate