Dr. Lynce on FDA Approval of Atezolizumab/Nab-Paclitaxel in TNBC

Filipa Lynce, MD, medical oncologist, MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and assistant professor of medicine, Georgetown University, discusses the FDA approval of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) plus nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) for the frontline treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic PD-L1—positive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

In March 2019, the combination was granted accelerated approval based on findings from the phase III IMpassion130 trial, explains Lynce. Results of the trial demonstrated a 40% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared with nab-paclitaxel alone.

Though this regimen is being utilized in the clinic, clinical trials should be considered for patients when possible to allow more combination strategies to emerge in this space, concludes Lynce.