Exploring the therapeutic use and outcome of antibody-drug conjugates in ovarian cancer treatment

Abstract

Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths due to late-stage diagnosis and treatment resistance. While surgery and chemotherapy are standard treatments, challenges such as platinum resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and limited therapeutic options persist. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for treating ovarian cancer (OC), particularly in cases of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC). In OC, various ADCs targeting antigens such as folate receptor alpha (FRα), trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP-2), mesothelin (MSLN), sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein 2B (NaPi2b), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) have shown encouraging preclinical results and significant clinical activity. However, challenges like antigen heterogeneity, off-target toxicity, and resistance mechanisms remain. This review highlights the current ADCs used in the clinic for the treatment of ovarian cancer, their challenges, and the future potential of ADC-based therapies in overcoming resistance and improving patient outcomes.