Atezolizumab for Pretreated Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Two recently approved PD-1 inhibitors (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) have been shown to improve outcomes in patients with pretreated metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC; NEJM JW Oncol Hematol Nov 2015, and N Engl J Med 2015; 373:1627; NEJM JW Oncol Hematol Feb 2016, and Lancet 2015 Dec 19; [e-pub]).

Now, investigators have conducted an industry-funded, international, randomized phase II trial (POPLAR) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the PD-L1 monoclonal antibody atezolizumab — the first in its class of immunotherapy agents — in 287 previously treated NSCLC patients. Patients were randomized to receive atezolizumab or standard docetaxel therapy and were stratified by PD-L1 tumor-infiltrating immune cell status.

Results were as f…