Atezolizumab in combination with Nab-paclitaxel for unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer – first line

Atezolizumab as an intravenous infusion, which in combination with an intravenous infusion of nab-paclitaxel, is in clinical development for the treatment of unresectable, locally advanced or triple-negative metastatic breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the cancer cells do not express receptors for oestrogen or progesterone or HER2 protein. Treatment of TNBC is challenging because of a lack of targeted therapy, aggressive disease course, and relatively poor prognosis. Treatment is usually through a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Atezolizumab combined with nab-paclitaxel is the first product to demonstrate positive phase III immunotherapy results in patients with locally advanced or metastatic TNBC who have not received prior systemic therapy. Atezolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) and blocks its interaction with the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), thereby enhancing T-cell activity against tumours. Nab-paclitaxel (paclitaxel formulated as albumin bound nanoparticles) is an anti-microtubule agent that inhibits cell growth by preventing mitosis. The combination may offer a first-line treatment option to improve clinical efficacy in the treatment of people with TNBC, an aggressive disease with no approved targeted therapy.