The Future of Antibody–Drug Conjugates in Urothelial Cancer
David Alex Goodson, Terence W. Friedlander
Abstract
Urothelial carcinoma remains a difficult disease to treat, with high rates of recurrence and progression to advanced disease. Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are a novel therapeutic option now available that have the potential to transform care for patients with urothelial carcinoma. As monotherapy, ADCs seem to offer advantages over standard chemotherapy regimens and immune checkpoint inhibitors in both efficacy and tolerability in patients with generally limited treatment options. As combination therapy, ADCs may hold even more promise, and we are now faced with several important questions about the optimal timing of their use, how to mitigate side effects and the development of resistance, and best combination partners. Ultimately, the full therapeutic potential of ADCs has yet to be realized and identification of novel targets, development of more effective agents, and further refinement of their use will likely yield even more benefits.