Bispecific antibodies: unleashing a new era in oncology treatment

Abstract

Advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic standards have substantially enhanced the survival of patients with malignant tumors. Nevertheless, the quest for effective strategies to address resistant or recurrent advanced tumors remains a critical and unwavering objective. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) unleashed a new era of anti-tumor treatment by simultaneously binding to two distinct targets, thereby enhancing specificity, minimizing off-target toxicities, and synergistically modulating anti-tumor immunity and the tumor microenvironment. Compared with the combination of two monoclonal antibodies, BsAbs represent the physical integration of dual specificities, demonstrating superior binding efficacy, reducing the risk of drug resistance, and enabling unique biological functions such as bridging tumor cells and T cells to achieve precise cytotoxicity. However, limitations such as off-target toxicities, drug resistance and immune-related adverse effects require carefully evaluation and further optimization. Further studies are necessary to explore the potential of combining BsAbs with other anti-tumor strategies, balancing the efficacy and safety, optimizing the outpatient-based administration workflow. By tracking the research advancements of recently approved BsAbs and BsAb candidates in clinical trials, it is evident that BsAbs holds significant promise as a novel and transformative option for improving survival outcomes for patients.