About: Tipifarnib is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 304 publications have been published within this topic receiving 14207 citations. The topic is also known as: Zarnestra.
TL;DR: It appeared that ras gene mutations can be found in a variety of tumor types, although the incidence varies greatly and some evidence that environmental agents may be involved in the induction of the mutations.
Abstract: Mutations in codon 12, 13, or 61 of one of the three ras genes, H-ras, K-ras, and N-ras, convert these genes into active oncogenes. Rapid assays for the detection of these point mutations have been developed recently and used to investigate the role mutated ras genes play in the pathogenesis of human tumors. It appeared that ras gene mutations can be found in a variety of tumor types, although the incidence varies greatly. The highest incidences are found in adenocarcinomas of the pancreas (90%), the colon (50%), and the lung (30%); in thyroid tumors (50%); and in myeloid leukemia (30%). For some tumor types a relationship may exist between the presence of a ras mutation and clinical or histopathological features of the tumor. There is some evidence that environmental agents may be involved in the induction of the mutations.
TL;DR: In this article, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to determine whether the addition of the farnesyltransferase inhibitor tipifarnib (Zarnestra, R115777) to standard gemcitabine therapy improves overall survival in advanced pancreatic cancer.
Abstract: Purpose To determine whether addition of the farnesyltransferase inhibitor tipifarnib (Zarnestra, R115777; Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium) to standard gemcitabine therapy improves overall survival in advanced pancreatic cancer. Patients and Methods This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared gemcitabine + tipifarnib versus gemcitabine + placebo in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma previously untreated with systemic therapy. Tipifarnib was given at 200 mg bid orally continuously; gemcitabine was given at 1,000 mg/m2 intravenously weekly × 7 for 8 weeks, then weekly × 3 every 4 weeks. The primary end point was overall survival; secondary end points included 6-month and 1-year survival rates, progression-free survival, response rate, safety, and quality of life. Results Six hundred eighty-eight patients were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two treatment arms. No statistically significant differ...
TL;DR: The results of this first clinical trial of a signal transduction inhibitor in patients with acute leukemias suggest that inhibitors of FT may have important clinical antileukemic activity.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that FTI-277 inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI 3-kinase)/AKT2-mediated growth factor- and adhesion-dependent survival pathways and induces apoptosis in human cancer cells that overexpress AKT2.
Abstract: Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) represent a novel class of anticancer drugs that exhibit a remarkable ability to inhibit malignant transformation without toxicity to normal cells. However, the mechanism by which FTIs inhibit tumor growth is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that FTI-277 inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI 3-kinase)/AKT2-mediated growth factor- and adhesion-dependent survival pathways and induces apoptosis in human cancer cells that overexpress AKT2. Furthermore, overexpression of AKT2, but not oncogenic H-Ras, sensitizes NIH 3T3 cells to FTI-277, and a high serum level prevents FTI-277-induced apoptosis in H-Ras- but not AKT2-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. A constitutively active form of AKT2 rescues human cancer cells from FTI-277-induced apoptosis. FTI-277 inhibits insulin-like growth factor 1-induced PI 3-kinase and AKT2 activation and subsequent phosphorylation of the proapoptotic protein BAD. Integrin-dependent activation of AKT2 is also blocked by FTI-277. Thus, a mechanism for FTI inhibition of human tumor growth is by inducing apoptosis through inhibition of PI 3-kinase/AKT2-mediated cell survival and adhesion pathway.
TL;DR: It is concluded that tipifarnib is tolerable, can induce disease stabilization, and can inhibit farnesylation and oncogenic/tumor survival pathways.