Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)

General information

Class/mechanism: PD-L1 antibody. Atezolizumab targets PD-L1 (programmed cell death-1 ligand 1) which is expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, preventing it from binding to PD-1 and B7.1 on T-cells. By interfering with the binding of PD-L1 to T-cell receptors, it can cause upregulation of the anti-tumor immune response.
Route: IV
Extravasation: no information

For conciseness and simplicity, HemOnc.org currently will focus on treatment regimens and not list information such as: renal/hepatic dose adjustments, metabolism (including CYP450), excretion, monitoring parameters (although this will be considered for checklists), or manufacturer. Instead, for the most current information, please refer to your preferred pharmacopeias such as Micromedex, Lexicomp, Medscape, UpToDate (courtesy of Lexicomp), or the prescribing information.

Diseases for which it is used

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer, triple negative
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Small cell lung cancer

Patient drug information

• Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) package insert
• Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) patient drug information (Chemocare)
• Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) patient drug information (UpToDate)

History of changes in FDA indication

Bladder cancer

• 5/18/2016: Granted FDA accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who:
  • Have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy
  • Have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.
• 4/17/2017: FDA granted accelerated approval for an expanded indication for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy, or have disease progression during or following any platinum-containing chemotherapy, or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. (No longer needs to be used after platinum-containing chemotherapy)
• 6/19/2018: FDA label revised for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who:
  • Are not eligible for cisplatin-containing therapy, and whose tumors express PD-L1 (PD-L1 stained tumor-infiltrating immune cells [IC] covering at least 5% of the tumor area), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or
  • Are not eligible for any platinum-containing therapy regardless of PD-L1 status. (Conditional approval based on PD-L1 expression)

Breast cancer, triple negative

• 3/8/2019: FDA accelerated approval in combination with paclitaxel protein-bound for adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (PD-L1 stained tumor-infiltrating immune cells [IC] of any intensity covering at least 1% of the tumor area) (New disease entity)

Non-small cell lung cancer

• 10/18/2016: Approval expanded for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease progressed during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving atezolizumab. (New disease entity)
• 12/6/2018: Approved in combination with bevacizumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSq NSCLC) with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. (Approval extended to the first-line setting and restricted to non-squamous histology)
• 12/3/2019: Approved in combination with paclitaxel protein-bound and carboplatin for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. (Approval extended to three-drug combination)

Small cell lung cancer

• 3/18/2019: FDA approved in combination with carboplatin and etoposide, for the first-line treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). (New disease entity)

Also known as

• Code names: MPDL3280A, RG7446
• Brand name: Tecentriq