[Targeted cytotoxic drugs emerging for cancer therapy].

First generation antibody drugs recognize the cancer cell, slow down the signaling of cell growth and activate the defense response. Second generation antibody drugs contain conjugated cytotoxic agents that are activated upon entry into the cancer cell. Trastuzumab has become established among the first generation antibody drugs utilized in breast cancer therapy, and its derivative trastuzumab-DM1 is the first antibody-drug conjugate currently in clinical trials for breast cancer. Trastuzumab acts as an antibody and transports into the cancer cell the cytotoxic agent DM1, which becomes activated there. Targeted cytotoxic drugs are under development for the treatment of many different types of cancer.