termsTerm
Duocarmycin (seco-DUBA)
aka duocarmazine payload, seco-DUBA, duocarmazine
Duocarmycins are a DNA-alkylating payload family that damages DNA directly rather than through cell division, so they work in slow-growing tumours.
Duocarmycins bind the minor groove and alkylate adenine. Because the mechanism does not depend on cell division, the class is attractive for indolent cancers and for tumours resistant to tubulin or topoisomerase payloads. Trastuzumab duocarmazine (SYD985) showed activity in HER2-positive breast cancer but ocular toxicity and a regulatory rejection in 2023 stalled it.
Category
ADC chemistry