What is an antibody drug conjugate? An antibody drug conjugate is a combination of an antibody, which is a protein directed towards a specific marker on the leukemia cells and the conjugated or attached to a toxic or other chemical that it can induce damage or kill off the cancer cells. We use antibody drug conjugates or antibody plus other toxins or drugs as a modality to bring specific therapies specifically to the cancer cells. For example, we use antibodies attached to chemotherapy and the theory behind that is we would deliver the chemo only to the cells that are the cancer cells and not to normal cells. We've also attached things like radiation to, again, deliver radiation specifically to the leukemia cells. Antibodies which are proteins binding a specific marker on the cells can be manipulated in many ways. We also use naked antibodies that don't have those, but the antibody drug conjugates bring a different level of both chemotherapy and targeted therapy together.
HealthTree • February 3, 2022