Our Therapies

TECENTRIQ® Infusion Therapy

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About TECENTRIQ® Infusion Therapy

TECENTRIQ® (atezolizumab) is an immunotherapy medicine given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. It is a PD-L1 blocking antibody, which means it works from the other side of the checkpoint pathway compared with PD-1 medicines. PD-L1 is a protein found on tumor cells and on immune cells in the tumor environment, and when it connects with PD-1 and B7.1 receptors on your T cells, it switches those T cells off. By binding to PD-L1 and blocking both of those connections, TECENTRIQ® releases that brake so your own immune system can recognize and attack cancer cells.

TECENTRIQ® is flexible on schedule: it can be given as 840 mg every two weeks, 1,200 mg every three weeks, or 1,680 mg every four weeks, and your oncologist chooses the interval that fits your regimen and your life. The first infusion runs over 60 minutes, and if you tolerate it well, every infusion after that can be given over 30 minutes. Depending on your diagnosis, TECENTRIQ® may be given on its own or alongside chemotherapy, bevacizumab, lurbinectedin, or oral targeted therapy.

Conditions treated by this therapy

TECENTRIQ® is FDA-approved across five cancer types, with lung cancer as the anchor. Your care team may consider this therapy if you have:

Early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (stage II to IIIA), as adjuvant treatment after surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, when your tumor has PD-L1 expression on at least 1% of tumor cells
Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with high PD-L1 expression and no EGFR or ALK genomic changes, as a first-line single-agent treatment
Metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with no EGFR or ALK genomic changes, as first-line treatment in combination with bevacizumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin, or with protein-bound paclitaxel and carboplatin
Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that has progressed during or after platinum-containing chemotherapy
Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, as first-line treatment with carboplatin and etoposide, and as maintenance treatment with lurbinectedin for disease that has not progressed after induction
Unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) that has not been treated with prior systemic therapy, given in combination with bevacizumab
BRAF V600 mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma, given with the oral targeted therapies cobimetinib and vemurafenib
Unresectable or metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer. This is the one indication that includes children, covering adults and pediatric patients 2 years and older, who receive weight-based dosing of 15 mg/kg (up to 1,200 mg) every three weeks

Several of these indications depend on biomarker testing. Your oncologist will confirm PD-L1 expression using an FDA-approved test before starting TECENTRIQ® for adjuvant or first-line lung cancer, and will confirm a BRAF V600 mutation before starting the melanoma combination. For lung cancer, adjuvant treatment is capped at one year, while treatment in the metastatic setting continues until your disease progresses or side effects become difficult to manage.

TECENTRIQ® Price

The cost of prescription medications can vary depending on your insurance coverage. If you're concerned about the price of your medication:

Contact your insurance provider to understand your coverage
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about lower-cost alternatives
Check with the drug manufacturer about financial assistance programs
Explore patient assistance options if you're uninsured or underinsured

Remember, many resources exist to help patients access necessary medications. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you're struggling with medication costs. No patient should go without necessary treatment due to financial limitations. If you have questions about financial assistance opportunities, contact a member of our Violet Health team.

What to Expect During TECENTRIQ® Infusion Therapy

When you arrive at our Violet Health location, you'll settle into a private, welcoming space designed with your comfort and peace of mind in mind. Before and during your intravenous infusion, our experienced team will:

Review your current health status and any symptoms you've noticed
Check your vital signs and review recent lab work, including liver enzymes, kidney function, thyroid function, and blood sugar, before treatment begins
Place your IV using gentle, practiced technique
Administer your first TECENTRIQ® infusion over 60 minutes. If you tolerate it well, every infusion after that can be given over 30 minutes
Keep the line dedicated to TECENTRIQ®, since no other medications are given through the same IV line, and give TECENTRIQ® first when chemotherapy or bevacizumab is scheduled on the same day
Monitor you closely for any infusion-related reactions
Protect your privacy and comfort throughout the visit

TECENTRIQ® offers more scheduling flexibility than most immunotherapies, with two-, three-, and four-week options at different doses. Many patients start on a shorter interval alongside chemotherapy and move to a longer interval once the chemotherapy cycles are complete. Combination days run longer than single-agent days, and your first appointment may run longer still while we complete your intake, baseline labs, and education.

TECENTRIQ® Side Effects

As with any medication, TECENTRIQ® may cause side effects. Being informed helps you know what to watch for and when to contact your healthcare team. When TECENTRIQ® is given on its own, the most common side effects are:

Fatigue or weakness, the most frequently reported side effect
Decreased appetite
Nausea
Cough and shortness of breath
Rash, itching, and low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
Muscle, joint, and bone pain
Changes in blood test results, including anemia, low lymphocyte counts, liver enzymes, kidney function, and electrolytes

When TECENTRIQ® is combined with chemotherapy, the side effect burden climbs and typically includes hair loss, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, nerve symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, and lower blood counts. With bevacizumab for liver cancer, high blood pressure and protein in the urine are the standouts. With cobimetinib and vemurafenib for melanoma, rash, fever, liver enzyme elevations, mouth sores, swelling, and sun sensitivity are common.

TECENTRIQ® can cause your immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues. These immune-mediated reactions can become severe or life-threatening, can affect more than one organ at a time, and may occur during treatment or after it has ended. Please alert our clinical staff or seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following:

Lung inflammation (pneumonitis), including new or worsening cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath. This risk is higher if you have received prior radiation to the chest
Intestinal inflammation (colitis), including diarrhea, stool changes, severe abdominal pain, or blood or mucus in the stool
Liver problems (hepatitis), including yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, severe nausea or vomiting, bruising or bleeding more easily, unusual tiredness, or pain on the right side of the abdomen
Hormone gland problems affecting the thyroid, adrenal glands, or pituitary, including headaches, vision changes, extreme tiredness, weight changes, dizziness or fainting, constipation, hair loss, mood changes, or feeling cold
New-onset type 1 diabetes, including increased thirst, frequent urination, or diabetic ketoacidosis
Kidney problems (nephritis), including changes in the amount or color of your urine, blood in the urine, pelvic pain, or unusual swelling
Serious skin reactions, including generalized rash, blistering or peeling skin, painful sores or ulcers in the mouth, nose, throat, or genital area, fever or flu-like symptoms, and swollen lymph nodes
Heart inflammation (myocarditis or pericarditis), including new or worsening chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, or swelling in the ankles
Infusion reactions, including chills or shaking, itching or rash, flushing, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling faint, fever, and back or neck pain
Other immune-mediated problems affecting the nerves, eyes, muscles, or pancreas, including numbness and tingling, muscle pain or weakness, eye redness or vision changes, or severe abdominal pain

Before treatment, tell your care team if you have an immune system condition such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus, if you have had or plan to have an organ or donor stem cell transplant, if you have received radiation to your chest, or if you take medicines that suppress your immune system. Fatal and other serious complications have occurred in patients who received an allogeneic stem cell transplant before or after PD-1 or PD-L1 blocking therapy, and solid organ transplant rejection has been reported.

Pregnancy warning: TECENTRIQ® may harm an unborn baby. We will verify pregnancy status before your first dose. Tell your care team if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Use effective birth control during treatment and for five months after your last dose, and do not breastfeed during treatment or for five months after your last dose.

Patient Forms

Before you attend your first appointment at Violet Health, please make sure to review the documents below. Please contact us if you have any questions!