Review of Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Abstract

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are target-specific conjugates that consist of a monoclonal antibody connected to a cytotoxic payload using a stable linker. These conjugates combine the highly specific targeting ability and potent killing effect to accurately and efficiently eliminate cancer cells, which has ushered in a new era of targeted therapy. Since the first approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2000, ADCs have experienced rapid development, with 14 of them receiving market approval. In this review, we examine the history, molecular structure, and pharmacological principles of ADCs, describing clinical trials and discussing the current challenges and future perspectives for the development of next-generation ADCs.