Antibody-Drug Conjugates as an Emerging Therapy in Oncodermatology

Simple Summary Currently, the therapeutic arsenal to fight cancers is extensive. Among these, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) consist in an antibody linked to a cytotoxic agent, allowing a specific delivery to tumor cells. ADCs are an emerging class of therapeutics, with twelve FDA- and EMA-approved drugs for hematological and solid cancers. In recent years, tremendous progress has been observed in therapeutic approaches for advanced skin cancer patients. ADCs appear as an emerging therapeutic option in oncodermatology. After providing an overview of ADC design and development, the goal of this article is to review the potential ADC indications in the field of oncodermatology. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are an emerging class of therapeutics, with twelve FDA- and EMA-approved drugs for hematological and solid cancers. Such drugs consist in a monoclonal antibody linked to a cytotoxic agent, allowing a specific cytotoxicity to tumor cells. In recent years, tremendous progress has been observed in therapeutic approaches for advanced skin cancer patients. In this regard, targeted therapies (e.g., kinase inhibitors) or immune checkpoint-blocking antibodies outperformed conventional chemotherapy, with proven benefit to survival. Nevertheless, primary and acquired resistances as well as adverse events remain limitations of these therapies. Therefore, ADCs appear as an emerging therapeutic option in oncodermatology. After providing an overview of ADC design and development, the goal of this article is to review the potential ADC indications in the field of oncodermatology.

Automated summary

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are an emerging class of therapeutics, with twelve FDA- and EMA-approved drugs for hematological and solid cancers. Tremendous progress has been observed in therapeutic approaches for advanced skin cancer patients. However, current targeted therapies or immune checkpoint-blocking antibodies outperform conventional chemotherapy, with proven benefit to survival. Nevertheless, these therapies still have limitations such as primary and acquired resistances as well as adverse events. Therefore, ADCs appear as an emerging therapeutic option in oncodermatology.