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 immunoconjugates
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