Antibody Drug Conjugates

Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) represented a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy by linking cytotoxic agents with tumor-specific antibodies, aiming to reduce systemic toxicity compared to traditional chemotherapy. By targeting specific cancer cell markers, ADCs minimized damage to healthy cells while effectively killing cancer cells. Several ADCs were approved for treating various cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer, with promising results in clinical trials. Despite their potential, ADCs faced challenges such as drug resistance, toxicity management, and the complexity of their design, including tumor targeting, antibody specificity, cytotoxic payload stability, and linking methods. Researchers were optimistic about ADCs' future, anticipating their use in earlier treatment stages and in combination with other therapies, as well as the development of ADCs targeting a broader range of cancer antigens.