Definition

An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a monoclonal antibody against the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) proto-oncogene c-Met (hepatocyte growth factor receptor; HGFR) linked to an undisclosed topoisomerase inhibitor, with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon intravenous administration of anti-c-Met ADC ABBV-400, the monoclonal antibody moiety targets and binds to c-Met expressed on tumor cells. Upon binding and internalization, the topoisomerase inhibitor is released, which binds to and inhibits topoisomerase, thereby inhibiting DNA replication and killing the c-Met-expressing cancer cells. c-Met, a receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed or mutated in many tumor cell types, plays key roles in tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis and tumor angiogenesis.