Atezolizumab for Use in PD-L1-positive Unresectable, Locally Advanced or Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Since the US FDA-approval of the first immune checkpoint inhibitor, anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 monoclonal antibody ipilimumab, for metastatic melanoma on 28 March 2011, another six agents have been granted use among a multitude of tumors, including renal cell cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma and non-small-cell lung cancer. The first anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 monoclonal antibody to receive the FDA approval, atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), has yielded promising results among international Phase III trials in triple-negative breast cancer and small-cell lung cancer, expanding the field of cancer immunotherapies. Herein, we review the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of atezolizumab, its safety and efficacy data from early clinical trials and summarize data from Phase III IMpassion130 trial, prompting FDA and EMA approval of atezolizumab in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Finally, implications for clinical use and ongoing research will be briefly discussed.