Dr. Kris on Atezolizumab in NSCLC

Mark G. Kris, MD, William and Joy Ruane Chair in Thoracic Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the role of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Atezolizumab has many FDA approvals in stage IV NSCLC, including in combination with chemotherapy and bevacizumab (Avastin), making it a standard of care in lung cancer, Kris says. This agent is effective as an adjuvant therapy, and the phase 2 LCMC3 trial (NCT02927301) showed that it can also be safely administered in the neoadjuvant setting, Kris explains.

Atezolizumab elicits impressive responses, and patients who respond to this drug tend to have favorable long-term outcomes, Krisnotes. Additionally, the toxicity profile of atezolizumab is comparable to other available NSCLC therapies, so this drug should be considered in many areas within lung cancer treatment, Kris concludes.