Tecentriq® (Atezolizumab)
Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) is a checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy drug. It is not FDA-approved for mesothelioma. In the phase III BEAT-meso trial, patients given Tecentriq with chemotherapy and Avastin® had a median progression-free survival of 9.2 months versus 7.6 months without Tecentriq.
Learn About Tecentriq for Mesothelioma in Our Free Guide
What Is Tecentriq (Atezolizumab)?
Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) is an immunotherapy drug that treats cancer. Like other immunotherapies, it is sometimes combined with additional mesothelioma treatments. Such treatment combinations include Tecentriq with Avastin® (bevacizumab), carboplatin, cisplatin or Alimta® (pemetrexed).
- Generic name: Atezolizumab is the generic name for Tecentriq.
- Brand name: Tecentriq is the brand name for atezolizumab.
- Administration: Tecentriq is administered intravenously.
- Drug combinations: Tecentriq may be combined with Alimta (pemetrexed), cisplatin, carboplatin or Avastin (bevacizumab), depending on the cancer being treated.
- Types of mesothelioma studied: Researchers are studying Tecentriq for pleural mesothelioma (in both epithelioid and biphasic cell types) and for peritoneal mesothelioma.
- Manufacturer: Tecentriq is manufactured by Genentech, Inc.
- FDA approval: Tecentriq is not FDA-approved to treat any type of mesothelioma. It is approved to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, alveolar soft part sarcoma and, since May 2026, a narrower form of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
Immunotherapy is a standard treatment method for many cancers, including mesothelioma. Research and related developments are ongoing for these drugs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tecentriq to treat certain cancer types. Clinical trials have shown potential benefits of Tecentriq for some mesothelioma patients, though a larger trial did not find a statistically significant overall survival benefit for the study population as a whole.
Recently, researchers have conducted some clinical trials on mesothelioma and Tecentriq. Interested mesothelioma patients may be eligible to take part in future Tecentriq clinical trials.
How Does Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) Treat Mesothelioma?
Tecentriq is a type of immunotherapy drug called an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Immune checkpoints are parts of the immune system that help protect healthy cells. These checkpoints identify which cells the immune system should not attack.
Cancer cells can manipulate this checkpoint system to protect themselves from attack. Tecentriq and other inhibitors block these checkpoints. This helps immune cells identify and attack malignant tumor cells. This includes less common types of tumors, such as mesothelioma.
So far, doctors and researchers have used Tecentriq as part of multimodal treatment plans. This means Tecentriq is used in combination with other treatment methods or drugs. Some cancer patients receive Tecentriq with chemotherapy drugs, such as Alimta and cisplatin. Researchers have also looked at Tecentriq administered after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Tecentriq is not yet approved for treating mesothelioma. However, the drug is approved for treating cancers that can be asbestos-related. These cancers include:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
Tecentriq also has approval for treating alveolar soft part sarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and melanoma, along with a narrower bladder cancer indication. Researchers continue to study the efficacy and safety of treating mesothelioma with Tecentriq.
FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitor regimens for unresectable pleural mesothelioma include Opdivo® (nivolumab) with Yervoy® (ipilimumab) and Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy. Tecentriq's role in mesothelioma remains limited to clinical trials.
Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
Tecentriq has FDA approval for use in the treatment of NSCLC and SCLC. The indications for treating lung cancers with Tecentriq differ between the two types.
- NSCLC: Depending on the disease stage, tumor characteristics and prior treatment, Tecentriq may be used alone or in a specific combination regimen. For first-line treatment of metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC without EGFR or ALK mutations, approved combinations include Tecentriq with bevacizumab, paclitaxel and carboplatin, or with protein-bound paclitaxel and carboplatin.
- SCLC: Tecentriq can be used as a first-line treatment when combined with carboplatin and etoposide. It is also approved as a maintenance treatment, combined with lurbinectedin, for patients whose cancer hasn't progressed after that first-line treatment.
The drug label includes eligibility factors for different Tecentriq regimens. Patients interested in Tecentriq can discuss these factors with their oncologists. Doctors can explain which regimens, if any, may make sense.
Research links some lung cancer cases to asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers can also cause mesothelioma and other cancers. People diagnosed with asbestos-linked lung cancers may find this treatment option helpful.
Did You Know?
Some treatments for mesothelioma are not covered by insurance.
Treatment for mesothelioma can become a financial burden.
What to Expect During Treatment
Tecentriq is an intravenous drug that may be a first- or second-line treatment for certain cancers. Dosage amounts or administration schedules for mesothelioma patients have not yet been approved. However, Tecentriq dosage guidelines for patients with lung cancer are available.
During the first treatment, doctors give the patient an intravenous dose through a 60-minute infusion. If the initial dose is well tolerated, the patient may receive a second infusion weeks later. Second and later doses may occur in 30-minute infusions.
As a supplemental treatment for NSCLC, doctors may use the following regimens:
- 840 mg dose, every 2 weeks
- 1,200 mg dose, every 3 weeks
- 1,680 mg dose, every 4 weeks
Patients receiving Tecentriq after surgery for early-stage lung cancer typically continue treatment for up to one year. Patients with metastatic lung cancer generally continue Tecentriq until their cancer progresses or side effects become unmanageable. Some patients may also receive chemotherapy with bevacizumab in combination with Tecentriq. Throughout treatment, doctors may monitor patients with routine tests, which can help doctors watch for and address patient reactions or discomfort.
Tecentriq Treatment Procedure in a Mesothelioma Study
Initial studies have been conducted on treating mesothelioma with Tecentriq. In one study, researchers administered treatment through four cycles, each lasting 21 days. Doctors stopped treatment if the patient experienced severe side effects or tumor progression.
On Day 1 of the cycle, doctors intravenously administered:
- Tecentriq over a period of 30 – 60 minutes
- Alimta over a period of 10 minutes
- Cisplatin over a period of 2 hours
Patients later underwent various types of surgery. Those undergoing extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) also received radiation therapy after surgery. Following surgery and radiation, patients could continue Tecentriq therapy for up to one year.
Patients with lung cancer or mesothelioma who receive Tecentriq may experience side effects. Oncologists can help patients track and manage these as they occur.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Before beginning Tecentriq infusions, patients may want to plan ahead for comfort. Unlike some other treatments, such as chemotherapy, medical preparations are generally not needed. But patients may want to take steps to improve their experience during infusion treatments.
Patients may choose to prepare by:
- Bringing a blanket for warmth
- Dressing comfortably
- Packing a book, magazine or other entertainment
- Planning to bring a companion for company and support
- Preparing doctor-approved snacks or drinks
- Taking notes about the experience and any questions or thoughts
Patients may also want to find someone to drive them to and from their appointments. Doctors or cancer centers may recommend this until they know how a treatment will affect a patient.
If a patient has any questions leading up to their treatment, they should talk with their mesothelioma doctor. A patient’s healthcare team may also have other suggestions to offer.
Follow-up care for immunotherapy, such as Tecentriq, varies for each patient. Doctors may create a follow-up care plan based on individual factors, such as:
- Any treatment side effects
- How the patient handled the infusion
- Other aspects of the treatment plan
Hydration, proper nutrition and rest are important after immunotherapy treatments. A patient’s follow-up care plan may also involve visits to their healthcare provider. Patients should communicate with their medical team, both during and after treatment.
Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) Benefits
Researchers continue studying the benefits of Tecentriq for treating mesothelioma. This includes research on overall survival rates for mesothelioma patients receiving Tecentriq.
In a small feasibility study, pleural mesothelioma patients were treated with Tecentriq, chemotherapy and surgery. At last report, median overall survival had not been reached and half the patients remained progression-free at 18.6 months.
Another study treated inoperable peritoneal mesothelioma patients with Tecentriq and Avastin. Researchers reported a 1-year survival rate of 85%.
Mesothelioma patients may experience other general benefits with Tecentriq, such as:
- Fewer immune-related side effects. Tecentriq is a PD-L1-targeting checkpoint inhibitor. Compared to CTLA-4-targeting inhibitors, such as Yervoy® (ipilimumab), Tecentriq may have fewer immune-related adverse effects.
- No required pretreatment preparation for checkpoint inhibitor treatment. In contrast, chemotherapy and other treatments may have detailed patient preparations.
- No surgery to implant a port. Unlike some chemotherapies, a port is not needed for patients to receive checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) Side Effects
Like many drugs and cancer treatments, Tecentriq has various potential side effects and warnings for its use. Healthcare providers can explain side effects in detail and tell patients what to watch for.
Researchers are continuing to study the side effects of Tecentriq. They are working to find which side effects occur in mesothelioma patients.
- Constipation
- Cough
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Nausea
*These side effects were observed in NSCLC patients being treated with Tecentriq alone or in combination with other drugs.
Less common side effects include infusion reactions. Tecentriq may also lead to autoimmune reactions in which immune cells attack healthy tissue.
In one study, some peritoneal mesothelioma patients receiving Tecentriq experienced other side effects. These included anemia and increased blood pressure.
Patients should tell their doctor about any discomfort they experience during or after treatment. Their doctor can then choose the best way to handle the side effects of Tecentriq treatment.
Managing Side Effects
Some patients may experience side effects from their Tecentriq treatment. Based on the type and severity of the reactions, doctors may choose to do any combination of the following:
- Administer corticosteroids
- Administer other immune-suppressing drugs (immunosuppressants)
- Pause treatment
- Stop treatment permanently
Side effects can vary based on several factors, including other treatments. For instance, side effects may be different if doctors combine Tecentriq with chemotherapy. Doctors may consider this when managing side effects caused by Tecentriq.
Who Is Eligible for Tecentriq (Atezolizumab)?
The FDA first approved Tecentriq in 2016 and its approved uses have expanded several times since, most recently in May 2026. Detailed information about eligibility for treatment of these cancers is available in the drug label. At this time, Tecentriq is not approved to treat mesothelioma. Still, some patients may qualify to access the drug through clinical trials.
Researchers are studying Tecentriq for malignant pleural mesothelioma (for both epithelioid and biphasic cell types) and peritoneal mesothelioma. Patients interested in Tecentriq should ask their doctor about any active clinical trials. They can discuss eligibility requirements and other participation details.
Clinical Trials and Studies on Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) for Peritoneal and Pleural Mesothelioma
Researchers have studied Tecentriq as a treatment for both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Studies have tested the drug in combination with treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery and Avastin (bevacizumab).
- Treatment: Patients started with systemic chemotherapy drugs Alimta and cisplatin, plus Tecentriq. Patients also received surgery. Those who underwent aggressive surgery also received radiation. Some patients received maintenance Tecentriq.
- Median Progression-Free Survival: 18.6 months
These results suggest Tecentriq may be a useful treatment for some pleural mesothelioma patients. However, the trial did not fully meet its predefined measure of success. Its protocol called for at least 18 of 24 surgical patients to complete a year of maintenance Tecentriq, but fewer patients did. Researchers described the overall side effects as moderate and manageable.
- Treatment: Patients received chemotherapy and Avastin, either with or without Tecentriq, in a randomized, phase III trial of 400 patients with advanced pleural mesothelioma.
- Median Progression-Free Survival: 9.2 months with Tecentriq, compared with 7.6 months without it
Adding Tecentriq lengthened the time before the cancer progressed, but the study did not find a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, its main goal, for the group as a whole. In a prespecified subgroup analysis, patients with non-epithelioid mesothelioma had improved overall and progression-free survival with the Tecentriq combination. Doctors are still investigating which patients benefit most.
- Treatment: Patients received systemic Tecentriq and Avastin. All patients had received prior treatments with Alimta and platinum-based chemotherapy. About 60% of patients had also received prior surgery and HIPEC, and 40% had already undergone two or more types of treatment.
- Median Progression-Free Survival: 17.6 months
- Progression-Free Survival at 1 Year: 61%
- Overall Survival at 1 Year: 85%
These results showed that Tecentriq was well-tolerated and led to “robust and durable responses.” Adverse events were generally manageable. A small percentage of patients stopped treatment because of side effects.
In an exploratory comparison, the median time from the start of patients’ prior platinum-pemetrexed treatment to their next treatment was 8.3 months, compared with 17.6 months with Tecentriq and Avastin in the study.
A randomized phase II trial (NCT05001880) is now testing this same atezolizumab-and-bevacizumab combination against chemotherapy alone for peritoneal mesothelioma and is currently recruiting patients.
These clinical trials demonstrate the potential of Tecentriq treatment for patients with mesothelioma. Doctors can help interested patients find clinical trials they may qualify for. Many cancer centers take part in open-label trials. This means that researchers and participants know which treatment is being given. These cancer centers may be able to connect patients with researchers.
Common Questions About Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) for Mesothelioma
Is Tecentriq FDA-approved to treat mesothelioma?
Has Tecentriq been shown to help mesothelioma patients live longer?
How can I access Tecentriq for mesothelioma treatment?
Sources
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Cancer Treatment; 9/1/2026
National Cancer Institute - Chemotherapy with or without Immunotherapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma; 8/13/2026
American Cancer Society - Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Their Side Effects; 12/15/2025
National Cancer Institute - Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; 4/7/2022
The ASCO Post - Neoadjuvant Atezolizumab Under Study for Resectable Pleural Mesothelioma; 9/14/2021
National Library of Medicine - Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Toxicity; 7/31/2018
Free Mesothelioma Treatment Guide
Dr. Francis Perry Wilson is the Director of the Clinical and Translational Research Accelerator at the Yale University School of Medicine. He specializes in nephrology and clinical research.
Liza Adelberg has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. At Mesothelioma.com, she creates clear, compassionate resources for patients and families affected by asbestos-related diseases.
