Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a promising therapeutic approach for cancer
patients by combining the antigen-targeting specificity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
with the cytotoxic potency of chemotherapeutic drugs. The FDA approval of Adcetris®
(brentuximab vedotin) in 2011 and Kadcyla® (trastuzumab emtansine or T-DM1) in 2013
has validated the idea of making “armed” antibodies, attracting a lot of attention into this
field. ADC technology has been an active area of research in recent years, resulting in a
number of ADCs in development for various tumor types. The number of immunoconju￾gates or ADCs undergoing clinical trial will thus further increase, possibly replacing some
of the existing naked monoclonal antibodies, and becoming the next generation of
anticancer biotherapeutics.