Maytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody–drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systems

Abstract Cancer remains the second leading cause of death globally, driving the need for innovative therapies. Among natural compounds, maytansinoids have shown significant promise, contributing to nearly 25% of recently approved anticancer drugs. Despite their potential, early clinical trials faced...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Matteo Perra, Ines Castangia, Matteo Aroffu, Federica Fulgheri, Rita Abi-Rached, Maria Letizia Manca, Hernán Cortés, María Luisa Del Prado-Audelo, Carla Nomura-Contreras, Alejandra Romero-Montero, Dietrich Büsselberg, Gerardo Leyva-Gómez, Javad Sharifi-Rad, Daniela Calina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-01-01
Series:Discover Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01820-z
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832585622078881792
author Matteo Perra
Ines Castangia
Matteo Aroffu
Federica Fulgheri
Rita Abi-Rached
Maria Letizia Manca
Hernán Cortés
María Luisa Del Prado-Audelo
Carla Nomura-Contreras
Alejandra Romero-Montero
Dietrich Büsselberg
Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
Javad Sharifi-Rad
Daniela Calina
author_facet Matteo Perra
Ines Castangia
Matteo Aroffu
Federica Fulgheri
Rita Abi-Rached
Maria Letizia Manca
Hernán Cortés
María Luisa Del Prado-Audelo
Carla Nomura-Contreras
Alejandra Romero-Montero
Dietrich Büsselberg
Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
Javad Sharifi-Rad
Daniela Calina
author_sort Matteo Perra
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cancer remains the second leading cause of death globally, driving the need for innovative therapies. Among natural compounds, maytansinoids have shown significant promise, contributing to nearly 25% of recently approved anticancer drugs. Despite their potential, early clinical trials faced challenges due to severe side effects, prompting advancements in delivery systems such as antibody-maytansinoid conjugates (AMCs). This review highlights the anticancer activity of maytansinoids, with a focus on AMCs designed to target cancer cells specifically. Preclinical and clinical studies show that AMCs, including FDA-approved drugs like Kadcyla and Elahere, effectively inhibit tumor growth while reducing systemic toxicity. Key developments include improved synthesis methods, linker chemistry and payload design. Ongoing research aims to enhance the safety and efficacy of AMCs, integrate nanotechnology for drug delivery, and identify novel therapeutic targets. These advancements hold potential to transform maytansinoid-based cancer treatments in the future.
format Article
id doaj-art-2a093abc90bd4a86bba5e5b4744aa8ca
institution Kabale University
issn 2730-6011
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Oncology
spelling doaj-art-2a093abc90bd4a86bba5e5b4744aa8ca2025-01-26T12:39:58ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-01-0116112410.1007/s12672-025-01820-zMaytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody–drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systemsMatteo Perra0Ines Castangia1Matteo Aroffu2Federica Fulgheri3Rita Abi-Rached4Maria Letizia Manca5Hernán Cortés6María Luisa Del Prado-Audelo7Carla Nomura-Contreras8Alejandra Romero-Montero9Dietrich Büsselberg10Gerardo Leyva-Gómez11Javad Sharifi-Rad12Daniela Calina13DISVA-Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of CagliariDISVA-Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of CagliariDISVA-Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of CagliariDISVA-Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of CagliariDISVA-Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of CagliariDISVA-Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of CagliariLaboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra IbarraTecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y CienciasTecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y CienciasDepartamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoWeill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar FoundationDepartamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversidad Espíritu SantoDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of CraiovaAbstract Cancer remains the second leading cause of death globally, driving the need for innovative therapies. Among natural compounds, maytansinoids have shown significant promise, contributing to nearly 25% of recently approved anticancer drugs. Despite their potential, early clinical trials faced challenges due to severe side effects, prompting advancements in delivery systems such as antibody-maytansinoid conjugates (AMCs). This review highlights the anticancer activity of maytansinoids, with a focus on AMCs designed to target cancer cells specifically. Preclinical and clinical studies show that AMCs, including FDA-approved drugs like Kadcyla and Elahere, effectively inhibit tumor growth while reducing systemic toxicity. Key developments include improved synthesis methods, linker chemistry and payload design. Ongoing research aims to enhance the safety and efficacy of AMCs, integrate nanotechnology for drug delivery, and identify novel therapeutic targets. These advancements hold potential to transform maytansinoid-based cancer treatments in the future.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01820-zMaytansineMaytansinoid-based therapiesAntibody-maytansinoid conjugatesNatural compoundsAnticancer studiesMicrotubules polymerization inhibitors
spellingShingle Matteo Perra
Ines Castangia
Matteo Aroffu
Federica Fulgheri
Rita Abi-Rached
Maria Letizia Manca
Hernán Cortés
María Luisa Del Prado-Audelo
Carla Nomura-Contreras
Alejandra Romero-Montero
Dietrich Büsselberg
Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
Javad Sharifi-Rad
Daniela Calina
Maytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody–drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systems
Discover Oncology
Maytansine
Maytansinoid-based therapies
Antibody-maytansinoid conjugates
Natural compounds
Anticancer studies
Microtubules polymerization inhibitors
title Maytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody–drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systems
title_full Maytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody–drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systems
title_fullStr Maytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody–drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systems
title_full_unstemmed Maytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody–drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systems
title_short Maytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody–drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systems
title_sort maytansinoids in cancer therapy advancements in antibody drug conjugates and nanotechnology enhanced drug delivery systems
topic Maytansine
Maytansinoid-based therapies
Antibody-maytansinoid conjugates
Natural compounds
Anticancer studies
Microtubules polymerization inhibitors
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01820-z
work_keys_str_mv AT matteoperra maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT inescastangia maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT matteoaroffu maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT federicafulgheri maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT ritaabirached maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT marialetiziamanca maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT hernancortes maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT marialuisadelpradoaudelo maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT carlanomuracontreras maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT alejandraromeromontero maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT dietrichbusselberg maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT gerardoleyvagomez maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT javadsharifirad maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems
AT danielacalina maytansinoidsincancertherapyadvancementsinantibodydrugconjugatesandnanotechnologyenhanceddrugdeliverysystems