Antibody-drug-conjugates as targeted chemotherapy agents for breast cancer

Abstract

Antibodies are large molecular weight proteins produced by the immune system. They have high affinity to receptors on different cells’ surfaces. Using this affinity, a number of studies have been conducted to deliver cytotoxic drugs to the tumor cell. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are monoclonal antibodies conjugated with cytotoxic molecules by a suitable linker. They have made a fundamental change in the field of chemotherapy [1]. Many trials on ADCs have been carried out in the clinic. The major feature of ADCs is to enable targeted drug delivery to the desired part of the body. This feature paves the way to increase therapeutic efficacy on target cells while it reduces cytotoxicity on non-targeted cells. In this thesis, a novel ADC based on Trastuzumab (Tmab) and poly (ethylene glycol) was designed. Using a biodegradable linker, drug molecules are conjugated to the polymer which in turn is conjugated to Tmab. The overall aim of increasing the payload on the targeting moiety is realized.