2017 Volume 76 Issue 1 Pages 15-18
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) are new class of anti-cancer drugs that combines monoclonal antibodies and highly potent cytotoxic molecules. While this concept has been around for a long time, recent advances in antibody engineering and linker technology have allowed the advent of safe, effective ADCs. Following the approvals of gemtuzumab ozogamicin for CD33-positive acute myeloid leukemia, brentuximab vedotin for Hodgkin lymphoma/systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma and trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer, the clinical utility of these ADCs has been evaluated. Furthermore, a variety of ADCs are currently under development and are expected to play prominent roles in anti-cancer treatment.
