Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Cancer Therapy

An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) provides the possibility of selectively ablating cancer cells by combining the specificity of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) for a target antigen with the delivery of a highly potent cytotoxic agent. ADC target antigens are typically highly expressed on the surface of cancer cells compared to normal cells. The tumor target, the cytotoxic agent, and the manner in which the agent is attached to the antibody are key determinants of clinical activity and tolerability. Recently, several clinical trials have demonstrated that ADCs achieve higher clinical response rates than unconjugated mAbs targeting the same cell surface antigen. Brentuximab vedotin represents one such ADC that has…