| Summary: | The concept of delivering 'magic bullets' to treat diseases was first proposed by Paul Erlich in the early 1900's. The realization of this concept for the treatment of cancer occurred in the late 1990's with the approval of monoclonal antibody therapies. The use of monoclonal antibodies conjugated (linked) to potent cytotoxic agents (antibody-drug conjugates, ADCs) for specifically delivering cytotoxics to cancer cells was an obvious extension of antibody-based therapy. ADCs have been under intense investigation for several decades; progress, however, has been limited due to toxicity or lack of improved efficacy compared to unconjugated cytotoxics. More recently, linker technology and target selection have advanced such that several ADCs and immunotoxins are undergoing clinical testing or are approved for use. This important volume gives the latest and most comprehensive information on the topic, describing different types of ADCs and immunotoxins for both hematologic and solid malignancies. Finally, the volume highlights the promise that this technology holds for diverse types of human cancer.
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