Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent one of the fastest-growing classes of drugs in oncology. ADCs aim to improve the therapeutic index of anticancer therapies by restricting the systemic delivery—such as that associated with chemotherapy, which affects healthy cells—to cells that express the target antigen of the selected monoclonal antibody. Potentially practice-changing innovations in ADC design, biomarker development, and combinations are ongoing in both preclinical and clinical studies. It is essential for clinicians to understand the interactions between ADCs and tumors and on- and off-target toxicities in order to realize the true potential of this class of drugs in the treatment of cancer and ultimately improve outcomes for patients. In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), healthcare providers should understand how current and emerging ADCs address unmet needs for patients with pretreated metastatic disease (i.e., after treatment that may include checkpoint inhibitors). There is also a need to address other key issues, such as proactive toxicity management, as well as next steps in research that may yield additional meaningful improvements in patient outcomes through the use of ADCs in combination with other treatments or in earlier lines of therapy for TNBC. Lastly, there is a need to explore the presence of disparities in access, care, and treatment of African American (AA) women diagnosed with TNBC.
Facebook Comments