Antibody –Drug Conjugates in Thoracic Malignancies: Clinical Trials Reveal Both Promise and Challenges

AbstractThoracic malignancies are the main cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The need to develop new therapies is therefore urgent. The recognition of new potential therapeutic targets in thoracic malignancies has prompted the development of a number of antibody –drug conjugates. This new class of potent anticancer agents is supposed to more specifically and directly target the tumor while limiting toxicity for healthy tissues by delivering a toxic payload to tumor cells that are recognized by the presence of specific cell surface antigens. Progress in th e development of antibody–drug conjugates over the last decade has been significant, with several promising advances. Unfortunately, many failures have also been encountered, often because of unexpectedly severe toxicities that contradicted the assumed mechanism of action, and major challenges rem ain. Various techniques to reduce the toxicities associated with antibody–drug conjugates are being studied, and the panorama of antibody–drug conjugates in clinical stages continues to increase and evolve. Current efforts in the conjugation and linker chemistries could result in the successful construction of clinically effective compounds. The future clinical development of antibody–drug conjugates could benefit from the identification of such payloads that can provide more safe and effective derivatives. Highly potent compounds with reasonable aqueous solubility, non-immunogenic profi le, and stability in stora...
Source: Targeted Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research