Recent advances of antibody-drug conjugates in treating breast cancer with different HER2 status
Yue Qiu1, Yaqin Shi2, Zhujun Chao1
1Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Abstract:
Despite the availability of multiple treatment options for breast cancer, challenges such as adverse events, drug resistance, and disease progression persist for patients. The identification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) as an oncogenic driver in a subset of breast cancers, alongside the development of HER2-targeted therapies, has significantly improved the prognosis of HER2-amplified breast cancers. However, therapeutic options remain limited for HER2-overexpressing or HER2-negative breast cancers. In response to this gap, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a promising approach. ADCs combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy, which allows for the targeted delivery of a cytotoxic payload to cancer cells. ADCs have been used as adjuvant chemotherapeutic treatments and salvage therapies across various breast cancer subtypes, which have greatly improved the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Numerous ongoing clinical trials seek to optimize dosing strategies and identify patient populations that would benefit most from ADCs. This review presents an updated and comprehensive overview of emerging investigational ADCs for treating breast cancer patients with various HER2 subtypes. These ADCs are spearheading a new era in targeted cancer therapy, promising to innovate treatment paradigms for both HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancers.
Insights
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) offer targeted breast cancer therapy. These innovative treatments show promise for HER2-positive and HER2-low subtypes, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Breast cancer presents treatment challenges including resistance and adverse events.
- Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted therapies improved outcomes for HER2-amplified breast cancers.
- Limited options exist for HER2-overexpressing and HER2-negative breast cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of emerging investigational antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for breast cancer.
- To highlight ADCs as a promising therapeutic strategy for various HER2 subtypes.
- To discuss the potential of ADCs to innovate breast cancer treatment paradigms.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and clinical trial data on ADCs in breast cancer.
- Analysis of ADC mechanisms, combining antibody targeting with cytotoxic payloads.
- Exploration of ADC applications in different breast cancer subtypes and treatment settings.
Main Results:
- ADCs demonstrate targeted delivery of chemotherapy to cancer cells, improving efficacy and reducing systemic toxicity.
- ADCs have shown success as adjuvant and salvage therapies across diverse breast cancer subtypes.
- Ongoing trials are optimizing ADC dosing and identifying patient populations for maximum benefit.
Conclusions:
- ADCs represent a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy for breast cancer.
- These agents offer new hope for patients with HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancers.
- Further research and clinical trials are crucial to fully realize the potential of ADCs in breast cancer treatment.
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