Sacituzumab govitecan: an antibody–drug conjugate

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer, patients with metastatic cancer have limited therapeutic options after initial lines of therapy. Understanding tumor biology has translated into the identification of actionable targets that resulted in therapeutics. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) are capitalizing on this explosion of scientific information. ADCs allow an antibody to a unique target to be conjugated via an innovative linker, to a highly toxic drug which is delivered to its target. Sacituzumab govitecan is an ADC that combines the active molecule in irinotecan, SN-38, to an antibody targeting trop2.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors introduce the reader to the ADC sacituzumab govitecan providing the reader with details about its pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy and safety. The authors also give their expert analysis about its potential future use.

Expert opinion: Sacituzumab govitecan is a novel and well-tolerated therapeutic showing promising results in difficult to treat cancers. Further studies are underway to optimize the group of patients that would benefit from it. Given its excellent performance, we are cautiously optimistic it will be approved by the FDA.

KEYWORDS:

• ADC (antibody–drug conjugate)
• breast malignancy
• cancer
• genitourinary malignancy
• gastrointestinal malignancy
• irinotecan
• metastatic cancer
• IMMU-132
• sacituzumab govitecan
• SN-38
• TROP2

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript has not been funded.