Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are specifically designed with the objective of delivering antineoplastic agents in the most precise and selectively targeted way, increasing the antitumoral efficacy while minimizing toxicity to normal tissues.

ADCs are composed of four key components: the target antigen, an antibody construct, a payload (most commonly a cytotoxic agent), and a linker moiety that couples the payload and the antibody.

The ADCs trastuzumab deruxtecan and sacituzumab govitecan were recently granted FDA approval for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and triple-negative advanced breast cancer, respectively.

Ongoing clinical trials evaluating ADCs are likely to reshape the standard of care for both early and advanced breast cancer.