Describe the components and the mechanisms of action of these therapeutic agents in cancer Flashcards
The main goal of antibody-drug conjugation as an anti-cancer agent is to release the cytotoxic drug to kill the tumour cell without harming the normal and healthy cells
What antibody-drug conjugate
Drugs designed by linking cytotoxic drugs to monoclonal antibodies to be delivered to tumour tissue that express the particular antigen
mechanism of action
Administered intravenously.
ADCs bind to their target antigens and are internalised through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Facilitates the release of cytotoxin which leads to apoptotic cell death of the cancer cell.
This minimises the damage to healthy cells
Drug example
Cetuximab is used as treatment for advanced bowel cancer
Challenges
Drug resistance.
Over time, cancer cells may adapt to the treatment, developing mechanisms to resist the effects of the cytotoxic drug delivered by ADCs.
Resistance can arise due to genetic mutations in the targeted antigens, alterations in the internalization process, or changes in drug metabolism within cancer cells.
