Peripheral neuropathy associated with monomethyl auristatin E-based antibody-drug conjugates

Zhiwen Fu; Chen Gao; Tingting Wu; Lulu Wang; Shijun Li; Yu Zhang; Chen Shi

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107778

Peripheral neuropathy associated with monomethyl auristatin E-based antibody-drug conjugates

iScience. 2023 Aug 29;26(10):107778. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107778. eCollection 2023 Oct 20.

Authors

Zhiwen Fu^{1

2}, Chen Gao^{1

2}, Tingting Wu^{1

2}, Lulu Wang^{1

2}, Shijun Li^{1

2}, Yu Zhang^{1

2}, Chen Shi^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
² Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan 430000, China.

Abstract

Since the successful approval of gemtuzumab ozogamicin, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a pivotal category of targeted therapies for cancer. Among these ADCs, the use of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) as a payload is prevalent in the development of ADC drugs, which has significantly improved overall therapeutic efficacy against various malignancies. However, increasing clinical observations have raised concerns regarding the potential nervous system toxicity associated with MMAE-based ADCs. Specifically, a higher incidence of peripheral neuropathy has been reported in ADCs incorporating MMAE as payloads. Considering the increasing global use of MMAE-based ADCs, it is imperative to provide an inclusive overview of diagnostic and management strategies for this adverse event. In this review, we examine current information and what future research directions are required to better understand and manage this type of clinical challenge.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer systems biology; Health sciences; Medicine; Oncology; Toxicology.

Publication types

Review