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How Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) Are Transforming Ovarian Cancer Treatment?

How Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) Are Transforming Ovarian Cancer Treatment?

Ovarian cancer stands as one of the deadliest malignant tumors affecting the female reproductive system. Its asymptomatic early stages lead to most patients receiving diagnoses at advanced stages, which complicates treatment and worsens prognosis. Even though ovarian cancer treatment has seen successes through surgery and chemotherapy procedures, major clinical challenges still exist due to high recurrence rates and drug resistance. Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) have gained recognition as a promising targeted therapy in cancer research during recent years. It fuses monoclonal antibodies with cytotoxic medications to deliver targeted cancer treatment while protecting healthy tissues from damage. The article will analyze how ADCs are used to treat ovarian cancer along with their influence on patient outcomes and will examine potential future research paths.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer describes malignant growths that develop from ovarian tissue. Pathological classification divides ovarian cancer into numerous subtypes, which include most commonly serous ovarian cancer as well as mucinous ovarian cancer, endometrioid ovarian cancer, and clear cell ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer develops through a complex process that includes several different factors. The pathogenesis and treatment response of ovarian cancer differ across its various subtypes while presenting distinct clinical manifestations. Research findings illustrate that ovarian cancer development depends on genetic factors along with hormone levels, lifestyle choices, and environmental conditions. For example, ovarian cancer risk in women increases significantly when they carry BRCA gene mutations because these mutations serve as major genetic risk factors for the disease. Additionally, ovarian cancer occurrence has shown associations with long-term oral contraceptive use and having fewer childbirths.

Ovarian cancerFig. 1. Ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Treatment protocols for ovarian cancer now involve surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy along with targeted therapy. Surgical procedures aim to excise the maximum tumor mass possible, and chemotherapy serves to destroy remaining cancerous cells. Platinum-based agents like cisplatin and carboplatin, together with paclitaxel, represent the main chemotherapy drugs used. Radiotherapy serves as an infrequent treatment method for ovarian cancer, and doctors typically reserve it for patients experiencing local recurrence or who require palliative care. Radiotherapy provides symptom relief but does not effectively control distant metastatic spread. In recent years targeted therapy has emerged as an essential advancement in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Targeted drugs work directly on molecular targets found in tumor cells, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Targeted therapy delivers higher precision and reduced toxicity when compared to conventional chemotherapy, which leads to better survival outcomes and enhanced quality of life for patients. However, targeted therapy also encounters challenges, including the development of drug resistance alongside negative side effects.

Antibody-Drug Conjugate

ADCs are complexes that combine monoclonal antibodies with potent cytotoxic drugs through chemical linkers, aiming to achieve precise tumor targeting. This innovative cancer therapy integrates the targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies with the powerful cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing damage to normal cells.

The structure of ADCs consists of three main components: the antibody, the small-molecule drug, and the linker.

The fundamental principle of ADCs is to use the targeting function of antibodies to precisely deliver small-molecule drugs to tumor cells. Once ADCs bind to antigens on the tumor cell surface, they are internalized and subsequently release the small-molecule drug within lysosomes. These drugs then act directly on the tumor cell nucleus or cytoskeleton, leading to tumor cell death.

ADC for Ovarian Cancer

CatalogNameCASPrice
BADC-01599Anetumab ravtansine1375258-01-7Inquiry
BADC-01600Sirtratumab vedotin1824663-83-3Inquiry
BADC-01601Tusamitamab ravtansine2254086-60-5Inquiry
BADC-01594Labetuzumab govitecan1469876-18-3Inquiry
BADC-01597Ladiratuzumab vedotin1629760-29-7Inquiry
BADC-01604Disitamab vedotin2136633-23-1Inquiry
BADC-01605Telisotuzumab vedotin1714088-51-3Inquiry

Ovarian Cancer and Antibody-Drug Conjugates

ADC holds great promise in the treatment of ovarian cancer, particularly in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), where it has demonstrated significant potential. Currently, multiple ADCs are undergoing clinical trials in the field of ovarian cancer, with those targeting folate receptor alpha (FRα), HER2, and NaPi2b attracting the most attention. These drugs show great promise in overcoming chemotherapy resistance, prolonging progression-free survival (PFS), and improving patients' quality of life. Furthermore, with continuous advancements in antibody engineering, linker optimization, and highly potent cytotoxic payloads, the application prospects of ADCs in ovarian cancer treatment are becoming increasingly broad. In the future, by combining ADCs with immunotherapy, PARP inhibitors, or other targeted therapies, their efficacy is expected to be further enhanced, providing ovarian cancer patients with more precise and effective treatment options. The following are some approved or clinically investigated ADC drugs and their applications in ovarian cancer treatment.

Advantages of Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Limitations of Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Future Prospects of ADCs in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

In Conclusion

As an innovative targeted therapy, ADCs have demonstrated immense potential in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Their high specificity allows for precise targeting of tumor cells, significantly improving therapeutic efficacy while minimizing damage to normal tissues. However, challenges such as toxicity, resistance, and production costs remain. In the future, with advancements in ADC drug development, combination therapies, and personalized medicine, ADCs are expected to play an increasingly vital role in ovarian cancer treatment. We look forward to ADCs bringing new hope and better prognoses for ovarian cancer patients.

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* Only for research. Not suitable for any diagnostic or therapeutic use.
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