Atezolizumab, Bevacizumab Combination Lessened Mortality Risk for Kidney Cancer Patients

Genentech recently announced positive results from the phase 3 IMmotion151 clinical trial, which explored the efficacy of combination therapy with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin), according to a press release.

The combination treatment met the co-primary endpoint of the study by demonstrating a clinically meaningful reduction of disease worsening or morality risk in patients with PD-L1-positive advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) compared with sunitinib, according to Genentech.

Included in the study were 915 treatment-naïve patients with mRCC who were randomized 1:1 to receive atezolizumab plus bevacizumab or sunitinib. Patients in the combination cohort received atezolizumab 15-mg/kg plus bevacizumab 1200-mg every 3 weeks, while patients in the sunitinib cohort received 50-mg daily for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks off.

The investigators noted that patients with PD-L1-positive disease treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab had favorable outcomes across all patient risk groups compared with those treated with sunitinib, according to the release. Since the data were descriptive, Genentech cautioned that these results could not be assessed for statistical significance.

The researchers are currently analyzing secondary endpoints, according to the release.

Safety for the combination therapy was consistent with the safety profile of each individual drug and previously reported events from the phase 2 trial. Notably, there were no new safety concerns observed.

The phase 3 trial is the second positive trial that evaluated the atezolizumab-bevacizumab combination. Previously, it demonstrated progression-free survival benefits over atezolizumab plus chemotherapy for patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to the release.

Atezolizumab is currently indicated to treat urothelial carcinoma and NSCLC. Bevacizumab is indicated to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, advanced NCSLC, mRCC, glioblastoma, advanced cervical cancer, and recurrent ovarian cancer.

“We are encouraged by these results as they add to the emerging body of evidence that supports our rationale for this combination. We believe that the regimen of TECENTRIQ and Avastin may enhance the potential of the immune system in the initial treatment of advanced kidney cancer,” said Sandra Horning, MD, chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. “We will discuss these data with health authorities globally and hope to bring this combination forward as a potential new treatment option as soon as possible."