Antibody-Drug Conjugates for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Simple Summary Metastatic breast cancer (BC) is currently an incurable disease. Besides endocrine therapy and targeted agents, chemotherapy is often used in the treatment of this disease. However, lack of tumor specificity and toxicity associated with dose exposure limit the manageability of cytotoxic agents. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a novel and evolving class of antineoplastic agents. By merging the selectivity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxic properties of chemotherapy, researchers aim to optimize the therapeutic index of anticancer drugs. Some of these compounds, such as trastuzumab deruxtecan, showed activity not only in HER2-positive, but also in HER2-low BC patients, possibly due to the bystander effect. In this review, the current clinical landscape about ADC development for BC treatment will be discussed, as well as the possible limitations of this treatment class. Metastatic breast cancer (BC) is currently an incurable disease. Besides endocrine therapy and targeted agents, chemotherapy is often used in the treatment of this disease. However, lack of tumor specificity and toxicity associated with dose exposure limit the manageability of cytotoxic agents. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a relatively new class of anticancer drugs. By merging the selectivity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxic properties of chemotherapy, they improve the therapeutic index of antineoplastic agents. Three core components characterize ADCs: the antibody, directed to a target antigen; the payload, typically a cytotoxic agent; a linker, connecting the antibody to the payload. The most studied target antigen is HER2 with some agents, such as trastuzumab deruxtecan, showing activity not only in HER2-positive, but also in HER2-low BC patients, possibly due to a bystander effect. This property to provide a cytotoxic impact also against off-target cancer cells may overcome the intratumoral heterogeneity of some target antigens. Other cancer-associated antigens represent a strategy for the development of ADCs against triple-negative BC, as shown by the recent approval of sacituzumab govitecan. In this review, we discuss the current landscape of ADC development for the treatment of BC, as well as the possible limitations of this treatment.

Automated summary

Metastatic breast cancer is an incurable disease, with chemotherapy often used alongside endocrine therapy and targeted agents. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) offer a promising approach by combining the selectivity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxic properties of chemotherapy, potentially improving the therapeutic index of anticancer drugs. Some ADCs have shown activity in both HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancer patients, indicating a bystander effect that may help overcome tumor heterogeneity.