Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) for Breast Cancer

Overview
Tecentriq is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in cases where surgery is not an option and the tumor is metastatic or locally advanced. Tecentriq may be prescribed in cases where breast cancer cells test positive for programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-L1). Tecentriq is also known by its drug name, atezolizumab. Tecentriq is prescribed in combination with chemotherapy drug paclitaxel. Tecentriq was granted accelerated approval by the FDA based on results in clinical trials. The continued availability of the drug may depend on the results of further studies.

Between 10 and 15 percent of breast cancers are triple-negative, meaning that the cancer cells do not test positive for receptors for estrogen, progesterone, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The lack of receptors makes TNBC harder to target with treatments. PD-L1 is a protein that helps cancer cells evade the immune system. Tecentriq is a genetically engineered antibody (protein) designed to bind with PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Tecentriq is believed to work by allowing the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.

How do I take it?
Tecentriq is administered as an intravenous injection by a health care professional. For each 28-day cycle, Tecentriq is administered on days 1 and 15, and paclitaxel is administered on days 1, 8, and 15.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Tecentriq lists common side effects including fatigue, weakness, nausea, cough, trouble breathing, and decreased appetite.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Tecentriq can include immune-mediated adverse reactions, severe infusion reactions, and fetal harm if taken during pregnancy.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Tecentriq — Genentech
https://www.tecentriq.com

Triple Negative Breast Cancer: New Study Highlights the Promise and Challenges of Immunotherapy — Breast Cancer Research Foundation
https://www.bcrf.org/blog/triple-negative-breas...