Targeted Anti-Cancer Therapies

ended

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) are fast growing classes of oncology therapeutics. They consist in a highly potent cytotoxic drug connected via a linker to an antibody that is specifically targeting certain tumor markers. By combining the cytotoxicity of the drug and the targeting properties of the antibody, ADCs kill cancer cells whilst leaving the healthy cells unaffected, a marked improvement compared to classical chemotherapies. However, limitations still exist which could fuel the development of new generations of ADCs with improved therapeutical properties. Targeted Anti-Cancer Therapies (TACT) is an innovative, international, multidisciplinary training and research programme which thus aims to train 11 Early- Stage Researchers (ESRs) on the development of state-of-the-art anti-cancer therapeutics and equip them with transferable, future career-enhancing skills to create the next generation of experts in Europe. More specifically, TACT’s research programme will focus on key priorities for the conception of new and more potent generations of Protein-Drug Conjugates (PDCs): site-specific bioconjugation methods, more potent payloads, environment-specific cleavable linkers, more efficient protein-based targeting systems and new analytical tools for acute characterization. This will be achieved by exposing the ESRs to the leading intersectoral research scientists and laboratories in Europe who are active in this field. In doing so, TACT combines state-of-the-art research with excellent training in PDCs, one of the hot topics in cancer and targeted therapies.