PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Paul Polakis ED - Esbenshade, Timothy A. TI - Antibody Drug Conjugates for Cancer Therapy AID - 10.1124/pr.114.009373 DP - 2016 Jan 01 TA - Pharmacological Reviews PG - 3--19 VI - 68 IP - 1 4099 - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/68/1/3.short 4100 - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/68/1/3.full SO - Pharmacol Rev2016 Jan 01; 68 AB - Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) constitute a family of cancer therapeutics designed to preferentially direct a cytotoxic drug to cells expressing a cell-surface antigen recognized by an antibody. The antibody and drug are linked through chemistries that enable release of the cytotoxic drug or drug adduct upon internalization and digestion of the ADC by the cell. Over 40 distinct ADCs, targeting an array of antigens and utilizing a variety of drugs and linkers, are undergoing clinical evaluation. This review primarily covers ADCs that have advanced to clinical investigation with a particular emphasis on how the individual targets, linker chemistries, and appended drugs influence their behavior.