fig1

Figure 1. Mechanism of action of ADC drugs in the whole process. The antibody component of an ADC specifically recognizes and binds to a target antigen on the cell membrane. Following binding, the complex is internalized via endocytosis. Once inside the cell, the ADC is transported to lysosomes, where it undergoes degradation. The linker connecting the antibody to the cytotoxic payload is cleaved by proteolytic enzymes, releasing the cytotoxic drug into the cytoplasm. Subsequently, the released drug disrupts the cell cycle, leading to tumor cell death. Created in BioRender. Hao, Y. (2025) https://BioRender.com/4xpt5v5. ADC: Antibody-drug conjugate.