Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Head and Neck Cancer / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a promising therapeutic treatment for cancer patients by combining the antigen-targeting specificity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with the cytotoxic potency of chemotherapeutic drugs. ADCs consist of three components, mAbs specific for ad tumor antigen, a linker species, and a cytotoxic payload. ADCs offer selective delivery of cytotoxic agents into targeted cancer cells, thereby allowing for reduced general cellular cytotoxicity caused by chemotherapeutic agents through antibody mediated specific recognition of tumor antigen. Ideally, in blood, after systemic administration, ADCs are non-toxic. Upon binding of the antibody to the targeted tumor antigen and internalization of the complex into the cancer cell, the drug is then released in its active form and in sufficient quantity to kill the cell. ADCs technology has been an active area of research in recent years, resulting in a number of ADCs in development for various tumor types. ADCs are able to be new treatment options for head and neck cancer. The number of ADCs undergoing clinical trial will further increase, possibly replacing some of the existing mAbs, and becoming the next generation of anticancer biotherapeutics.