Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) represent one of the most significant advances in oncology in recent years. These therapies combine an antibody capable of specifically recognizing cancer cells with a potent anticancer payload, allowing the drug to be delivered directly to the tumor.

ADCs have profoundly transformed the treatment of several cancers, including breast, lung, and gynecological malignancies. Their development is now accelerating worldwide, with several hundred compounds currently under investigation. 

Published on June 8, 2026, in Cancer Cell, the article Antibody-drug conjugates in precision oncology brings together, among others, Dr. Barbara Pistilli and Dr. Maria Fernanda Mosele, medical oncologists at Gustave Roussy, alongside international collaborators. 

This review examines both the successes and current limitations of ADCs. The authors demonstrate that ADC efficacy does not depend solely on the presence of the molecular target recognized by the antibody. Tumor biology, the tumor microenvironment, and interactions with the immune system also play a critical role.

The article highlights the need to develop new multidimensional biomarkers capable of better identifying patients most likely to benefit from these treatments while also anticipating mechanisms of resistance and toxicity. 

Less than two months later, on August 3, 2026, Nature Medicine published The next generation of antibody-drug conjugates, a perspective article coordinated by Dr. Maria Fernanda Mosele, medical oncologist at Gustave Roussy, and Prof. Fabrice André, Director of Research at Gustave Roussy, together with several international experts. 

The authors present an ambitious vision for the future of ADCs. They advocate for an integrated approach combining advances in chemistry, next-generation preclinical models, in-depth biological analyses of tumors, and clinical infrastructures capable of evaluating new therapeutic candidates more rapidly.

The ultimate goal is to accelerate the development of more effective andpersonalized treatments that are better adapted to the biological diversity of cancer. 

The successive publication of these two articles in leading scientific journals highlights the important role played by Gustave Roussy teams in advancing the ADC field. 

By bringing together fundamental, translational and clinical research, researchers at the Institute are helping to deepen our understanding of these innovative therapies and to define the strategies that will maximize their benefit for patients in the years ahead. 

• Cancer Cell, 8 juin 2026, Antibody-drug conjugates in precision oncology – B. Pistilli, R. Colombo, F. Mosele, S. Chandarlapaty
• Nature Medicine, 3 août 2026, The next generation of antibody-drug conjugates - F. Mosele, A. Peltier, Y. Ozaki, A. Detappe, J. C. Soria & F. André