Fig. 5.

The core mechanism of action of antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). ADCs contain three parts: monoclonal antibody targeting tumor antigen, cytotoxic drugs and a linker that combines antibody with drugs. ADC binds to specific antigens expressed on tumor cells, followed by internalization via endocytosis. The ADCs enter endosomes and subsequently degrade in lysosomes, resulting in the release of cytotoxic drugs. Cytotoxic drugs contribute to DNA breakage and microtubule disruption, ultimately inducing the death of tumor cells