BACKGROUNDDespite advances, there continues to be unmet need in breast cancer. Combining anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) cancer immunotherapy atezolizumab with other targeted therapies may enhance T-cell-dependent cytolytic antitumor activity.METHODSThis open-label, phase Ib study evaluated the safety of atezolizumab-based combinations with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity or antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) agents. Patients with unresectable human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (mBC) received atezolizumab with trastuzumab/pertuzumab, atezolizumab with the ADC ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), or atezolizumab with trastuzumab/pertuzumab and docetaxel. In an early-breast cancer (eBC) "window of opportunity" study, patients with operable HER2+ locally advanced or inflammatory eBC received neoadjuvant atezolizumab with trastuzumab/pertuzumab or atezolizumab/T-DM1, followed by docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab/pertuzumab. Exploratory outcomes included tumor response and biomarkers.RESULTSBy March 15, 2019, 73 patients were enrolled. Safety findings were consistent with the treatment components' individual profiles. Objective responses were observed in 2 of 6 and 5 of 14 patients in 2 mBC cohorts receiving atezolizumab/T-DM1 and in 6 of 6 patients with mBC receiving atezolizumab, trastuzumab/pertuzumab, and docetaxel. PD-L1 in immune cells was the only biomarker that increased with atezolizumab/T-DM1. In the window of opportunity cohorts, PD-L1 levels and CD8+ T-cell infiltration increased from baseline in HER2+ eBC tumors receiving atezolizumab with trastuzumab/pertuzumab or T-DM1, irrespective of response. Despite increases in T-cell and B-cell gene signatures with trastuzumab/pertuzumab, but not T-DM1, neither combination promoted T-cell receptor clonal expansion.CONCLUSIONAtezolizumab with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity or ADC agents appears safe and may activate the adaptive immune system of patients with HER2+ eBC tumors more than those with mBC tumors.