Tecentriq: What to Expect, Side Effects, and More

Tecentriq (chemical name: atezolizumab) is used in combination with the chemotherapy medicine Abraxane (chemical name: albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) to treat unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative, PD-L1-positive breast cancer. Unresectable means the cancer can’t be removed with surgery.

Tecentriq was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019 for the treatment of some people with advanced triple-negative breast cancer. However, in 2021, the FDA later withdrew its approval of Tecentriq for breast cancer. People in the United States who are receiving Tecentriq infusions for advanced-stage triple-negative breast cancer may continue this treatment, but should discuss other treatment options with their doctors.

The withdrawal only applies to breast cancer treatment in the United States and doesn’t affect other approved indications for Tecentriq. The withdrawal also doesn’t affect other countries’ approval of Tecentriq to treat metastatic triple-negative, PD-L1-positive breast cancer.

See Tecentriq prescribing information.

Tecentriq is a type of immunotherapy called an immune checkpoint inhibitor. The medicine helps your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Immune checkpoints are proteins in your body that help your immune system tell the difference between your own cells and foreign invaders, such as harmful bacteria. Cancer cells sometimes find ways to use these immune checkpoint proteins as a shield to avoid being identified and attacked by the immune system.

PD-1 is a type of checkpoint protein found on T cells, which are part of the immune system. PD-L1 is another checkpoint protein found on many healthy cells in the body. When PD-1 binds to PD-L1, it stops T cells from killing a cell.

Still, some cancer cells have a lot of PD-L1 on their surface, which stops T cells from killing these cancer cells. Tecentriq stops PD-1 from binding to PD-L1, which signals to the T cells to attack the cancer cells.

Tecentriq is given intravenously through an IV or port.

You get Tecentriq on a 28-day cycle. On days one and 15, you get Tecentriq followed by Abraxane, which is also given intravenously. On day eight, you get Abraxane alone.

If you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you shouldn’t take Tecentriq. 

Like almost all breast cancer medicines, Tecentriq can cause side effects, some of them severe.

The most common side effects of Tecentriq are:

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  hair loss

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  fatigue

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  peripheral neuropathy

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  nausea

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  diarrhea

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  anemia (low red blood cell count)

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  constipation

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  cough

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  headache

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  neutropenia (low white blood cell counts)

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  decreased appetite

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  vomiting

Tecentriq also can cause other serious side effects, including:

Lung problems: Symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain. 

Liver problems:  Symptoms may include yellowing of the skin, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your abdomen, dark urine, and bruising more easily than normal. 

Colitis (inflammation of the inner lining of the colon): Symptoms may include diarrhea, blood or mucus in your stool, and severe stomach pain.

Hormone gland problems: Tecentriq may affect glands that make hormones your body needs to function properly, including the thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, and pituitary gland. Symptoms may include headaches that won’t go away, extreme tiredness, weight gain or loss, changes in mood or behavior, feeling cold, and constipation.

Other organ problems: Symptoms may include severe muscle weakness, confusion, blurry or double vision, neck stiffness, skin blisters, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swelling of the ankles.

Severe infection: Symptoms may include fever, cough, flu-like symptoms, pain when urinating, or back pain.

Members of our community discuss their experiences with Tecentriq in the community forum. Here are some of their comments. Remember, it's very important to talk to your doctor about any side effects you're having and ask about ways to manage them.

“I've been on it since March 2020, first with Taxol and then since November with Abraxane. For me, chemo+immuno is life. It has made me so much better! I exercise, I walk with my dog, I train agility with my dog, I take drives, do stuff around the house, putter around my garden, etc.” —moth

“My treatment is Tecentriq and Abraxane and as of my July scans, I'm NED (no evidence of disease).” —ipenelope

“I had my first treatment of taxol, carboplatin and Tecentriq on May 31. [I have] a stiff neck. I'm also feeling like I have a sore throat.” —Katiekins

Read more in our Tecentriq discussion forum.

The cost of Tecentriq may vary. The price you’ll pay depends on the drug manufacturer, your health insurance provider and plan, where you live, and the pharmacy you use. You may also be charged for the office visits required for Tecentriq infusions.

Note: Your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization before covering Tecentriq.

If you or your doctor have questions or concerns about Tecentriq coverage, reimbursement, or out-of-pocket costs, please call the Genentech Patient Resource Center at 877-436-3683 for help.

Learn more about financial assistance and medicine cost-lowering tips.