Abstract
Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) take advantage of the specificity of a monoclonal antibody to deliver a linked cytotoxic agent directly into a tumour cell. The development of these compounds provides exciting opportunities for improvements in patient care. Here, we review the key issues impacting on the clinical success of ADCs in cancer therapy. Like many other developing therapeutic classes, there remain challenges in the design and optimisation of these compounds. As the clinical applications for ADCs continue to expand, key strategies to improve patient outcomes include better patient selection for treatment and the identification of mechanisms of therapy resistance.
Highlights
The search for the “magic bullet” to selectively deliver a cytotoxic agent to the site of a cancerous cell has been the goal of clinical oncology for more than 100 years [1]
Even with more than 20 monoclonal antibodies approved for therapeutic use in cancer patients, further development is required to increase their effectiveness and reduce their toxicity [4]
To gain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval was gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg®) for patients over the age of 60 who suffered their first relapse of CD33 positive acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and were ineligible for chemotherapy [45]
Summary
The search for the “magic bullet” to selectively deliver a cytotoxic agent to the site of a cancerous cell has been the goal of clinical oncology for more than 100 years [1]. Even with more than 20 monoclonal antibodies approved for therapeutic use in cancer patients, further development is required to increase their effectiveness and reduce their toxicity [4]. Antibody–drug conjugates combine the ability to link a cytotoxic payload to a monoclonal antibody which recognises a cellular surface antigen and deliver a toxic payload directly into the target cell [5]. Depending of the target antigen in question, the use of monoclonal antibodies reduces the off target effects by limiting the exposure of normal tissues to the payload compared with conventional systemic therapies [2]. Ability to identify an appropriate target that contains these characteristics is, in practice, The selection of antigen in further complicated by thebyconstant evolutionary pressure placed on difficult. The target antigen should not be downregulated on cancer cell populations during treatment.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
