Antibody-drug conjugates in cancer and beyond: progress, promise, and perspectives

Victor S Goldmacher1

  • 1Research and Development Department, ImmuVia, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, United States.

Antibody Therapeutics
|August 27, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) offer targeted cancer therapy by linking antibodies to cytotoxic drugs. This collection highlights advances in ADC development for more effective and safer cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy.
  • ADCs combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the potency of cytotoxic payloads.
  • This approach aims to enhance therapeutic efficacy while reducing systemic side effects.

Discussion:

  • This special collection reviews cutting-edge research in ADC development.
  • Key areas include novel targeting strategies, diverse antibody formats, and innovative payload design.
  • Advances in bispecific apoptosis triggers, formulation, and conjugation technologies are also explored.

Key Insights:

  • The rapid evolution of ADC technology is enabling more precise tumor cell killing.
  • Minimizing systemic toxicity is a critical focus in current ADC research.
  • The development of ADCs is expanding therapeutic options for various cancers.

Outlook:

  • Future ADCs promise enhanced safety and efficacy profiles for cancer patients.
  • The field is moving towards broader applications beyond oncology.
  • Continued innovation in ADC platforms will drive the next generation of targeted therapies.

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