In a significant shift for cancer treatment, new therapies including Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, CAR-T therapies, and mRNA vaccines are reshaping the landscape of oncology. Harriet Keane, PhD, Partner and Co-lead at McKinsey Cancer Centre, and Dr. Vashishth Maniar, Oncologist and Co-founder of MOC Cancer Care & Research Centre, shared their perspectives on how these advancements are driving more precise, effective, and personalised approaches to cancer care.
“These modalities are dramatically enhancing cancer treatment by providing more precise, targeted therapies with higher efficacy,” explained Keane during Eight Roads' annual healthcare conference Scale-Up Health. “ADCs, for instance, combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs, allowing precise targeting of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues. Bispecific antibodies, meanwhile, can bind to two antigens simultaneously, significantly enhancing the immune system’s recognition and destruction of cancer cells.” This precision has led to promising, durable outcomes and has the potential to be curative, surpassing conventional therapies in efficacy.
Dr. Maniar emphasised that these treatments differ markedly from traditional methods like chemotherapy. “Traditional therapies are often non-specific, affecting healthy cells and leading to significant side effects. In contrast, ADCs, bispecifics, and CAR-T therapies deliver more targeted action, yielding deeper, longer-lasting responses with reduced side effects in many cases,” he said. However, access to these therapies remains limited to major urban centers due to infrastructure and affordability challenges, which he noted is a significant barrier, especially for tier-2 and tier-3 cities. “The impact on patient outcomes is transformative, especially for those who have access to these advanced treatments,” Maniar added.
Keane highlighted that advanced therapies are also paving the way toward personalised medicine. “These therapies target specific biomarkers and molecular characteristics unique to each individual’s tumour,” she said. “While there is progress—especially with over 100 biomarker-defined therapies approved in the U.S.—the challenge is to extend these benefits to a broader range of cancers and patient populations.” Fully personalised cancer treatment will require further advances in genetic profiling, biomarker identification, and scalable manufacturing.
Discussing ADCs, Keane elaborated on their promise in treating breast cancer. “ADCs, particularly HER2-targeted therapies, have expanded to treat patients with HER2-low and ultra-low expression, significantly transforming treatment outcomes,” she explained. With ongoing development, ADCs are expected to play a broader role across various cancers, including both solid tumors and hematologic cancers.
As the field of oncology continues to evolve, experts are optimistic about the potential of these novel modalities to set new standards in cancer care, offering patients more effective, targeted, and tailored treatment options than ever before.
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