The nonradiologic medical management of solid tumors has evolved from the use of 
traditional cytotoxic agents to modern targeted therapies, monoclonal 
antibodies, and immunotherapies. Advances in the understanding of cancer biology 
and therapeutic strategies have resulted in increasing numbers of new drug 
applications and approvals. Consequently, practicing oncologists need to learn 
how the newly available agents function and what toxicities to watch for, as 
well as ways to optimize the use of both new drugs and previously approved drugs 
with new indications. In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration approved 
three novel drugs for the treatment of solid malignancies-olaratumab in selected 
patients with soft-tissue sarcoma, atezolizumab for the treatment of bladder 
cancer, and rucaparib for the treatment of ovarian cancer; also in 2016, the use 
of previously approved anticancer agents (including atezolizumab) was expanded 
into 11 new patient populations. The diversity of options for patients is 
evident in the broad range of the 2016 approvals, which include immune 
checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and 
traditional cytotoxic agents. This article focuses on the new agents and 
indications that emerged in 2016 for solid tumor treatment. We review the drug 
indications, mechanisms of action, pivotal trial data, pertinent toxicities, use 
in special populations, and the appropriate clinical contexts for treatment 
planning.