The Rise of the Trojan Horse: Advances in Antibody-Drug Conjugates and Their Impact on Targeted Cancer Therapy

The landscape of cancer therapy has undergone a dramatic evolution in recent decades, shifting from broad-spectrum cytotoxic agents to highly targeted approaches. Among these advancements, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a promising class of therapeutics, offering the potential to selectively deliver potent cytotoxic payloads to tumor cells while minimizing off-target toxicity. This essay will explore the recent advances in ADC technology, highlighting key developments in antibody engineering, linker design, payload selection, and clinical applications, while also recognizing the contributions of prominent researchers in the field.