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Folate receptor alpha (FRα) testing: what it means for you

Waiting on test results can feel like one more hard thing, for you and the people who love you. Here's what the Folate receptor alpha (FRα) test looks for and how it can help your care team pick the treatment most likely to work for you.

ℹ️ General information to help you and your loved ones talk with your care team, not medical advice. Read our disclaimer.

Matters most in: Ovarian cancer

Why it matters

If enough of your cancer cells have FRα and the cancer has stopped responding to platinum chemo, a drug that carries chemo straight to those cells may be an option. It's a gentle reminder that even platinum-resistant cancer has choices.

Treatments it can point to

• Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine), an antibody-drug conjugate FDA-approved for FRα-positive, platinum-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer after 1 to 3 earlier treatments (Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine))

Only your care team can say which treatment fits you. Drug approvals depend on cancer type, stage and prior treatment.

Tissue vs. blood testing

Tumor tissue from a biopsy or surgery, tested with an FDA-approved stain.

Most tests use a piece of tumor tissue from a biopsy or surgery. Some can also use a blood sample (a 'liquid biopsy') that looks for tumor DNA floating in the blood. Blood tests are easier and faster, but they can miss a change that a tissue test would find, so a negative blood test is often followed by a tissue test.

❓ Questions you and your loved ones can ask

• Has my tumor been tested for folate receptor alpha?
• Would Elahere be an option for me, and how will we protect my eyes?
• When will my results be back, and will treatment wait for them?
• Will my insurance cover this test?

Written by the Cancer Side Effects Guide team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 15, 2026 · How we write