Duocarmycin

Duocarmycin, a DNA minor groove-binding alkylating agent, acts as a payload in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) by selectively targeting AT-rich regions of DNA. It forms covalent bonds with the N3 position of adenine, inducing strand breaks and apoptosis through S-phase cell cycle arrest . This mechanism bypasses multidrug resistance pathways, making it potent against aggressive tumors.