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Updated: May 28, 2026

Initial Evaluation of Antibody-conjugates Modified with Viral-derived Peptides for Increasing Cellular Accumulation and Improving Tumor Targeting
Published on: March 8, 2018
Antibody conjugate therapeutics: challenges and potential
Beverly A Teicher1, Ravi V J Chari
1Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Beverly.Teicher@nih.gov
Antibody conjugates, which link cytotoxic agents to antibodies targeting tumor cells, have overcome historical challenges. This technology is advancing, with antibody-drug conjugates and antibody-radionuclide conjugates reaching approval and clinical trials for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antibody conjugates are therapeutics that link cytotoxic agents to antibodies targeting tumor-specific cell surface antigens.
- The development of antibody conjugates has faced and overcome challenges related to antibody source, cytotoxic agent properties, and linker stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the historical development and current status of antibody conjugate therapeutics.
- To highlight the potential of antibody conjugate technology in improving cancer treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical approaches in antibody conjugate development, including antibody-protein toxin fusions, antibody-chelated radionuclide conjugates, antibody-small-molecule drug conjugates, and antibody-enzyme conjugates.
- Analysis of regulatory approval and clinical trial progression for different types of antibody conjugates.
Main Results:
- Four main strategies for antibody-mediated delivery of cytotoxic agents have been explored.
- Antibody-radionuclide conjugates and antibody-drug conjugates are the most advanced, with several products approved and numerous others in clinical trials.
Conclusions:
- Antibody conjugate technology has matured, overcoming significant hurdles in its development.
- This therapeutic class shows substantial promise to become a key modality in improving cancer patient treatment.
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