Atezolizumab Added to Chemotherapy Fails to Improve Outcomes in Anal Cancer

Metastatic anal cancer can be treated with the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel. Recent phase 2 data support the use of docetaxel, cisplatin and infusional 5-FU (DCF) as an alternative first-line regimen. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have a modest degree of activity in anal cancer and are supported for use in later-line therapy.

Investigators in France now report results of an industry-supported, open-label, phase 2 trial evaluating the addition of atezolizumab to first-line chemotherapy with a modified schedule of DCF (mDCF). Patients with metastatic anal cancer were randomized to receive mDCF (docetaxel 40 mg/m² and cisplatin 40 mg/m² for 1 day and 5-FU 1200 mg/m² per day for 2 days every 2 weeks) either alone or combined with ate…