George Kumar, Senior Director of Medical Diagnostics Pan Tumor and GI Cancers at AstraZeneca, shared on LinkedIn:
“Antibody–Drug Conjugates: Precision Payloads for Cancer Therapy
What if chemotherapy could find the tumor before it acts?
That’s the core idea behind antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), one of the fastest-moving classes of targeted cancer therapy. Nature Portfolio has published a new Collection that brings together research, reviews and opinion pieces from the past three years on this field.
How ADCs work
An ADC has three parts:
- An antibody that recognizes a protein on the surface of cancer cells
- A highly potent cytotoxic payload
- A linker that holds the two together until the drug reaches its target
The goal is to deliver a payload too toxic to give systemically straight to the tumor, so more of the drug hits cancer cells and less hits healthy tissue.
Why the momentum
Advances in target (ligand) discovery and molecular engineering have improved efficacy, and that has translated into a growing number of regulatory approvals worldwide.
Opportunities and challenges
The Collection looks at both sides of this evolving class: the promise of broader tumor coverage and better outcomes, alongside the open questions that still shape how ADCs are designed, developed and used.
Why it matters
ADCs sit at the meeting point of biology, chemistry and diagnostics. Their success depends on choosing the right target, engineering the right molecule, and identifying the right patients. That makes biomarkers and companion diagnostics as important as the drug itself.
If you work in oncology, translational research or drug development, this collection is a useful snapshot of where the field is heading.
Image Copyright and Courtesy: Jia Liu
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales.”
You can also read: ESMO 2026: 10 ADCs in Lung Cancer to Watch
