title: Antibody-drug conjugates and other nanomedicines: the frontier of gynaecological cancer treatment.
abstract: Gynaecological cancers: malignancies of the cervix, uterus, ovaries, vagina and vulva, are responsible for over 1.1 million new cancer cases and almost half a million deaths annually. Ovarian cancer in particular is difficult to treat due to often being diagnosed at a late stage, and the incidence of uterine and vulvar malignancies are both on the rise. The field of nanomedicine is beginning to introduce drugs into the clinic for oncological applications exemplified by the liposomal drugs, Doxil and Myocet, the nanoparticle, Abraxane and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Kadcyla and Adcetris. With many more agents currently undergoing clinical trials, the field of nanomedicine promises to have a significant impact on cancer therapy. This review considers the state of the art for nanomedicines currently on the market and those being clinically evaluated for the treatment of gynaecological cancers. In particular, it focuses on ADCs and presents a methodology for their rational design and evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Swansea University Medical School , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Swansea University Medical School , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK.
authors.forename: Jetzabel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Parra
authors.affiliation: Swansea University Medical School , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK.
authors.forename: Gareth D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Healey
authors.affiliation: Swansea University Medical School , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amakiri
authors.affiliation: Abertawe Bro Morannwg University Health Board, Obstetrics & Gynecology Department Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, CF31 1RQ, UK.
authors.forename: Lavinia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Margarit
authors.affiliation: Swansea University Medical School , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK.
authors.forename: Lewis W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: Swansea University Medical School , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK.
authors.forename: Deyarina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Swansea University Medical School , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK.
authors.forename: R Steven
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2562-3461
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Conlan
keywords: antibody–drug conjugate; drug delivery system; endometrial cancer; nanomedicine; ovarian cancer; rational design