atezolizumab Injection

[Killiancon]

Hi all,

I’ve read online that some sclc patients are getting atezolizumab immunotherapy by injection. It was first used in March 2024 in Newcastle. There doesn’t seem to be much other information. I just wanted to check is anyone being treated in this way and is it planned to roll out across the UK.

Thanks

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi Killiancon

Welcome to the forum, Atezolizumab is a type of Immunotherapy and it is licensed for use for advanced SCLC in combination with chemotherapy under what is called the commercial arrangement, where it provides terms of how the NHS can fund this in England and Wales.

Equally the person has to be reasonably fit and mobile to be eligible, (score between 0 and 1) this is based on a grading scale of fitness and health prior to treatment: ecog-acrin.org/resources/ec...

This link from NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) provides information on how this is licensed for use: nice.org.uk/guidance/TA638/...

You may be interested to read our booklet on Small cell lung cancer: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

The oncologist will offer the treatment that will provide the best outcome and you cold certainly discuss this with them or the lung cancer nurse specialist.

Immunotherapy has a potentially better response rate if the biomarker PD-L1 is more than 50% present from the biopsy tissue. However, that is not to say it is not used below this level.

This is our leaflet on the biomarker testing: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

You are welcome to contact us on the details below if you would like to discuss anything, our ask the nurse helpline is free phone number 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600, alternatively you can email us at [e-mail]

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Wallbrook1916 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

I’m having Atezolizumab for non small lung cancer. Is this wrong?

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle in reply to Wallbrook1916]

Hi Wallbrook1916

No this is not wrong, Atezolizumab is also licensed for use in the UK for non small cell lung cancer. Hope you are keeping well on this.

This link from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides information on this: nice.org.uk/guidance/ta705

If you are interested this is our booklet on Immunotherapy: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

You are welcome to contact us if you would like to discuss anything, our free phone ask the nurse helpline number is 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600, alternatively you can email us at [e-mail]

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Wallbrook1916 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you. I’ve been having injections for a year. No side effects so far. It didn’t seem to be working for the first months, but for the past three scans I have been stable.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle in reply to Wallbrook1916]

That sounds good to hear, sometimes it can take a few months before results are seen and encouraging that it is stable and no side effects.

All the very best

The Roy Castle Support Team