Dr. Kalinsky on Clinical Impact of Atezolizumab Combo in TNBC

Kevin Kalinsky, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, discusses the clinical impact of the combination of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

In March 2019, the FDA granted accelerated approval to the combination for the frontline treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic PD-L1—positive TNBC. The approval was based on data from the phase III IMpassion130 trial which showed a 40% reduction in the risk of progression or death with the combination versus nab-paclitaxel alone.

The combination was given to patients with metastatic or inoperably locally advanced TNBC who did not have prior therapy for their advanced disease.

Treatment with atezolizumab has become the standard of care for patients with PD-L1—positive TNBC, says Kalinsky.

Patients should be monitored for neuropathy and immune-related toxicities. However, the regimen is generally well tolerated, explains Kalinsky.