Multicenter phase 2 trial of atezolizumab plus chemotherapy for advanced non-squamous NSCLC with untreated brain metastases

The multicenter phase 2 Atezo-Brain trial in Spain evaluated atezolizumab combined with carboplatin and pemetrexed for patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer with untreated brain metastases, a population traditionally excluded from trials. The overall 12-week PFS rate was 62.2% and the rate of grade 3 or 4 adverse events during the first 9 weeks was 27.5%. The intracranial median PFS was 8.9 months with 42.7% response rate. The systemic median PFS was 8.9 months with 45% response rate. The median overall survival was 11.8 months. The authors conclude that atezolizumab plus carboplatin and pemetrexed had activity in patients with advanced nsqNSCLC with untreated brain metastases with an acceptable safety profile.