Current Landscape of Antibody-Drug Conjugate Development in Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are fusions of therapeutic drugs and antibodies conjugated by a linker, designed to deliver a therapeutic payload to cells expressing the target antigen. By delivering the highly cytotoxic agent directly to cancer cells, ADCs are designed to enhance safety and broaden the therapeutic window. Recently, ADCs have demonstrated promising efficacy in various solid tumors and are rapidly expanding their indications. The prognosis of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains poor, with no new therapeutics since the advent of anti–PD-1 antibodies in 2016, highlighting a critical need for innovative therapies. Recent preliminary results suggest that ADCs could be promising treatment options for HNSCC as they explore a variety of target antigens, payloads, and linkers. However, for successful adaptation of ADCs in the treatment of HNSCC, addressing key challenges such as payload toxicities, antigen heterogeneity, and adaptive resistance will be essential. Current research focused on new ADC structures, including multispecific antibodies and noncytotoxic payloads, and diverse combination approaches, show promise for future advancements.