The European Commission has approved and granted the marketing authorization of atezolizumab (marketed as tecentriq) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) for initial first-line treatment, in cases of extended-stage microcytic lung cancer in adults.
As they report from Roche, it is based on the results of the IMpower133 phase III study, which showed that atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival for the first time in more than 20 years. Likewise, the atezolizumab-based combination also significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death compared to chemotherapy as the only treatment.
Thus, in the words of Sandra Horning, Chief Medical Officer and head of Global Product Development at Roche “this approval makes Tecentriq the first oncological immunotherapy available in Europe for the initial treatment of small-stage lung cancer in extensive stages , which is an important step forward for these patients. ”
Small cell lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. It should be remembered that lung cancer can be divided into two main types: microcytic and non-small cell lung cancer. Microcytic lung cancer differs from other lung cancer subtypes because of its aggressive nature, rapid growth and the early development of metastatic disease.
It currently accounts for approximately 15 percent of all cases of lung cancer. Of these, about 70 percent of patients are diagnosed in advanced stages, which often means an unfavorable prognosis.