drug_type
RELEVANT_DRUG
intervention_type
Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC)
drug_description
An intravenous antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) consisting of a monoclonal antibody that binds a tumor-associated cell-surface antigen, is internalized, and releases a cytotoxic small-molecule payload inside the cancer cell, leading to cell death with a potential bystander effect; being evaluated in a first-in-human Phase 1 study for advanced solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma.
nci_thesaurus_concept_id
C203533
nci_thesaurus_preferred_term
Anti-DLK-1/MMAE Antibody-drug Conjugate TORL-4-500
nci_thesaurus_definition
An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against human delta-like 1 homolog protein (DLK-1; DLK1) conjugated, via a cleavable linker, to the cytotoxic agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration of anti-DLK-1/MMAE ADC TORL-4-500, the anti-DLK-1 antibody moiety targets and binds to DLK-1 expressed on tumor cells. Upon binding, internalization, and linker cleavage, MMAE binds to tubulin and inhibits its polymerization, which results in G2/M phase arrest and induces apoptosis in DLK-1-expressing tumor cells. DLK-1, an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like membrane bound protein overexpressed by certain tumor cell types and on certain cancer stem cells (CSCs), plays a key role in tumor cell proliferation. Its expression is widely expressed during fetal development but in adult healthy tissue it is very restricted.
drug_mesh_term
Antibody-Drug Conjugates
drug_category
ANTIBODY DRUG CONJUGATE
drug_class
Conjugate
drug_delivery_route
Intravenous
drug_mechanism_of_action
A monoclonal antibody-drug conjugate that binds DLK-1 on tumor cells, is internalized, and via a cleavable linker releases the MMAE payload; MMAE inhibits tubulin polymerization, inducing G2/M arrest and apoptosis, with potential bystander killing of adjacent tumor cells.
drug_name
TORL-4-500
nct_id_drug_ref
NCT06005740