Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), as an emerging class of targeted anticancer drugs, have demonstrated exceptional efficacy in treating various refractory and metastatic solid tumors in clinics. However, the therapeutic benefits and underlying mechanisms of combining ADCs with other targeted therapies remain unexplored.

In a study published in Advanced Science, Dr. GUO Pengfrom the Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. HE Dawei from Chongqing Medical University, and Professors YANG Liu and ZHANG Peng from Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, revealed that the synergistic effects of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine (DAC) combined with an rationally designed ICAM1-targeting ADC (ICAM1-ADC) in malignant melanoma.

The researchers discovered that DAC enhances the antitumor immunity of ICAM1-ADC by remodeling the tumor microenvironment, providing a novel ADC combination therapy strategy for the treatment of highly heterogeneous tumors such as malignant melanoma. This research highlights a significant cooperative effect between ADCs and epigenetic drugs, offering a potential drug combination scheme for clinical ADC combination therapies.

Original link: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202400203