Antibody

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs): Role of Antibodies

Antibodies in Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) play a critical role in guiding cytotoxic drugs to cancer cells. These antibodies act as a navigation system, ensuring that the drug targets only the cancer cells and minimizes damage to healthy tissue. The combination of a monoclonal antibody and a toxic payload allows for more precise treatment, enhancing efficacy and reducing side effects.

Key Roles of Antibodies in ADCs:

1. Targeting Cancer Cells:
   • Antibodies specifically bind to antigens found on the surface of cancer cells.
   • They help identify and target tumors with high accuracy.
2. Navigation System for Payloads:
   • The antibody guides the cytotoxic drug directly to the cancer cells.
   • This selective delivery system ensures that the drug affects only the tumor cells, sparing healthy tissue.
3. Enhancing Treatment Precision:
   • ADC antibodies provide a high level of specificity, ensuring that the drug is only delivered where it is needed.
   • This targeting increases the effectiveness of the drug and decreases unwanted side effects.
4. Improving Efficacy:
   • By targeting cancer cells precisely, ADC antibodies enable higher concentrations of the cytotoxic drug to be delivered directly to the tumor, increasing the drug’s potency.

Applications:

• Breast Cancer: ADC antibodies target HER2-positive breast cancer cells.
• Lymphoma: Antibodies targeting CD30 or CD19 are used in lymphoma treatments.
• Ovarian Cancer: ADC antibodies target antigens like folate receptor-alpha (FRα) in ovarian cancer cells.

Benefits of ADC Antibodies:

1. Targeted Therapy: Only the cancer cells receive the toxic drug, reducing damage to healthy cells.
2. Reduced Side Effects: More precise targeting results in fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.
3. Increased Treatment Effectiveness: The combination of antibodies and cytotoxic drugs offers a stronger, more focused approach to cancer treatment.