Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma

Introduction. Nowadays the standard of care for locally advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a combination of platinum-based drugs. However, such a therapy is characterized with high toxicity and selective efficacy. So, the question of the optimal alternative to the first line of therapy and the choice of drugs for the second line of therapy is currently relevant.Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of UC. Nevertheless, despite the fact that initially the drugs of this series showed a fairly high efficacy as a second-line therapy for metastatic UC, at present there is no unambiguous opinion about the correct tactics of their use. There is also no consensus on the predictive value of PD-L1 biomarkers and their significance in determining treatment tactics.Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of first-line atezolizumab therapy in 22 patients with unresectable forms of UC.Materials and methods. The experience of the State Clinical Hospital named after D.D. Pletnev on the example of 22 patients with advanced UC who received first-line therapy with atezolizumab 1200 mg intravenously once every 21 days until progression or intolerable toxicity. Efficacy was assessed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria.Results and discussion. Median follow-up 16.3 months. The objective response rate (ORR) is estimated at 72.7%, 95% CI. A complete response according to RECIST 1.1 criteria was observed in 5 patients (22.7%). Median time to first response was 2.2 months (range 1.5-5.7), late responses (at 5 and 5.7 months) required space in 2 patients. Median progression-free survival was 5.2 months (95% CI) in all patients. Median overall survival (OS) 18.5 months (95% CI). Specific application-related events were required in 10 (45.4%) cases. All the side effects were managed by standard symptomatic therapy. The dosage of atezoli-zumab was reduced in 7 (32%) cases. Immune-mediated adverse events were reported in 5 (23%) patients. No patient received systemic non-corticosteroid immunomodulatory agents for immune-mediated events. 2 (9%) patients received corticosteroids.Conclusions. Atezolizumab has shown high efficacy in the first line of treatment for advanced UC.