[Oncology. Antibody-drug conjugates : a challenging innovation].

Abstract

New therapeutic agents in oncology are emerging rapidly, both in terms of the number of approved drugs and the technological and biological innovation of new treatments. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) offer a promising cancer therapy by specifically targeting tumor cells. ADC are composed of a monoclonal antibody recognizing the tumor cell via specific antigens, coupled with a potent cytotoxic agent that resembles classical chemotherapy. This mechanism of action aims to deliver the cytotoxic agent directly to the tumor cell and spare healthy cells. However, important toxicities have been reported. On the one hand, these toxicities are related to the cytotoxic agents that, once delivered locally, spread to other parts of the body. On the other hand, there are specific toxicities associated with these ADC, which we address in this article.