Antibody-drug conjugates for treating early-stage breast cancer: current use, anticipated evolutions

Abstract Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with potent cytotoxic payloads, leading to improved tumor delivery of the latter. After improving outcomes for patients with metastatic disease, ADC testing moved to the curative setting, where already one agen...

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Main Authors: Pooja Patel, Antonio Giordano, Sara Giordano, Ilana Schlam, Sara M. Tolaney, Paolo Tarantino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Breast Cancer
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00800-4
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author Pooja Patel
Antonio Giordano
Sara Giordano
Ilana Schlam
Sara M. Tolaney
Paolo Tarantino
author_facet Pooja Patel
Antonio Giordano
Sara Giordano
Ilana Schlam
Sara M. Tolaney
Paolo Tarantino
author_sort Pooja Patel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with potent cytotoxic payloads, leading to improved tumor delivery of the latter. After improving outcomes for patients with metastatic disease, ADC testing moved to the curative setting, where already one agent (trastuzumab emtansine) has been approved, after demonstrating to improve overall survival. Herein, we review the rationale, evidence, and challenges with the use of ADCs in the early-stage setting.
format Article
id doaj-art-b35aa4dc4b27411085adcd4f6cefc8d1
institution DOAJ
issn 2374-4677
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Breast Cancer
spelling doaj-art-b35aa4dc4b27411085adcd4f6cefc8d12025-08-20T03:05:07ZengNature Portfolionpj Breast Cancer2374-46772025-07-011111910.1038/s41523-025-00800-4Antibody-drug conjugates for treating early-stage breast cancer: current use, anticipated evolutionsPooja Patel0Antonio Giordano1Sara Giordano2Ilana Schlam3Sara M. Tolaney4Paolo Tarantino5Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteMedical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteMedical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteMedical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteMedical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteMedical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteAbstract Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with potent cytotoxic payloads, leading to improved tumor delivery of the latter. After improving outcomes for patients with metastatic disease, ADC testing moved to the curative setting, where already one agent (trastuzumab emtansine) has been approved, after demonstrating to improve overall survival. Herein, we review the rationale, evidence, and challenges with the use of ADCs in the early-stage setting.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00800-4
spellingShingle Pooja Patel
Antonio Giordano
Sara Giordano
Ilana Schlam
Sara M. Tolaney
Paolo Tarantino
Antibody-drug conjugates for treating early-stage breast cancer: current use, anticipated evolutions
npj Breast Cancer
title Antibody-drug conjugates for treating early-stage breast cancer: current use, anticipated evolutions
title_full Antibody-drug conjugates for treating early-stage breast cancer: current use, anticipated evolutions
title_fullStr Antibody-drug conjugates for treating early-stage breast cancer: current use, anticipated evolutions
title_full_unstemmed Antibody-drug conjugates for treating early-stage breast cancer: current use, anticipated evolutions
title_short Antibody-drug conjugates for treating early-stage breast cancer: current use, anticipated evolutions
title_sort antibody drug conjugates for treating early stage breast cancer current use anticipated evolutions
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00800-4
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