Dr. Reck on the Efficacy of Maintenance Atezolizumab in ES-SCLC

Martin Reck, MD, PhD, head of the department of thoracic oncology and the Clinical Trial Department within the Department of Thoracic Oncology at Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf, discusses the efficacy of maintenance atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

The majority of patients enrolled on the phase 3 IMpower133 trial had previously received 4 cycles of chemotherapy, according to Reck. Investigators reported that several prognostic factors were associated with unfavorable outcomes for those receiving maintenance therapy, including older age, low performance status, and high antidiuretic hormone levels. 

Efficacy data on maintenance atezolizumab appeared to demonstrate a continuation of the survival benefit observed from the primary chemoimmunotherapy regimen patients were administered, says Reck. When looking at overall survival (OS) from the start of maintenance therapy, results showed that maintenance atezolizumab demonstrated a higher median OS of 12.5 versus those who were given a placebo; this corresponds with a hazard ratio of 0.59.

Moreover, when examining OS starting from randomization, a median OS of 11.3 was reported in the control arm versus 15.7 months in the investigational arm, adds Reck. Results also indicated a confirmatory benefit with regard to progression-free survival that favored maintenance atezolizumab, Reck concludes.