Examples of antibody-drug conjugates

Each combines an antibody that recognises a cell-surface target with a linked anticancer drug. They are not interchangeable: the cancer type, target level, previous treatment, health conditions, and expected side effects shape selection.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan and trastuzumab emtansine target HER2. Sacituzumab govitecan targets Trop-2, enfortumab vedotin targets nectin-4, and mirvetuximab soravtansine targets folate receptor alpha. The antibody guides the conjugate toward cells carrying its target; after uptake, the attached drug can damage the cell.

A shared drug class does not mean a shared side-effect profile. The target, linker, attached payload, dose schedule, and tissues exposed all affect monitoring and treatment decisions.

Ask which marker the medicine targets and how your tumour was tested for it. Review prior cancer treatments, lung or heart problems, nerve symptoms, eye conditions, liver health, current medicines, and pregnancy considerations with the oncology team. These details can change the monitoring plan or make another option more suitable.

Before each infusion, report new symptoms rather than waiting for them to become severe. Keep the clinic's urgent contact details available and follow instructions for blood tests, scans, eye checks, or heart checks that apply to your particular medicine.

Contact the treatment team urgently for fever, chills, unusual bruising or bleeding, persistent diarrhoea or vomiting, mouth soreness that limits drinking, a new rash, worsening numbness, vision changes, or marked weakness. New cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or reduced exercise tolerance needs rapid assessment because some conjugates can affect the lungs or heart.

Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, collapse, sudden facial or throat swelling, or rapidly worsening chest symptoms. Do not wait for the next infusion visit.

Consider asking: What target does this conjugate recognise? What did my biomarker result show? Why is this medicine appropriate now? Which effects are specific to its payload? What monitoring will I need? Which symptoms require an immediate call, and could any of my existing conditions change the plan?