Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are targeted cancer therapies that combine a monoclonal antibody with a potent chemotherapy drug, delivering treatment directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Often called “smart bombs,” ADCs improve outcomes across several cancers.
An ADC works in four steps: the antibody binds specifically to cancer cell proteins, the complex is internalized, the linker releases the cytotoxic drug inside the cell, and the drug kills the cancer cell—sometimes also affecting nearby cells through a “bystander effect.”
ADCs are approved for multiple cancers, including HER2-positive breast cancer (trastuzumab emtansine, trastuzumab deruxtecan), Hodgkin lymphoma (brentuximab vedotin), acute myeloid leukemia (gemtuzumab ozogamicin), bladder cancer (enfortumab vedotin), and cervical cancer (tisotumab vedotin).
Key advantages include precise targeting, reduced systemic side effects, effectiveness against resistant cancers, and high potency, making ADCs a transformative option for patients with relapsed or difficult-to-treat cancers.