Abstract

Purpose: R115777 is an orally active farnesyl transferase inhibitor that specifically blocks farnesylation of proteins involved in growth-factor–dependent cell-signal–transduction pathways. We conducted a phase II study in 76 patients with advanced breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Two cohorts of patients were recruited sequentially. The first cohort (n = 41) received a continuous dosing [CD] regimen of R115777 400 or 300 mg bid. The second cohort (n = 35) received 300 mg bid in a cyclical regimen of 21 days of treatment followed by 7 days of rest (intermittent dosing [ID]). Results: In the CD cohort, four patients (10%) had a partial response (PR) and six patients (15%) had stable disease at ≥ 24 weeks (SD). In the ID cohort, five patients (14%) had a PR and three patients (9%) had prolonged SD. The first six patients in the CD cohort treated at 400 mg bid all developed grade 3 to 4 neutropenia, so the subsequent 35 patients were treated at 300 mg bid. The incidence of hematologic toxicity was significantly lower in the ID than in the CD (300-mg bid) cohort: grade 3 to 4 neutropenia (14% v 43%; P = .016) and grade 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia (3% v 26%; P = .013). One patient in the ID cohort developed grade 2 to 3 neurotoxicity compared with 15 patients in the CD cohort (3% v 37%; P = .0004). Conclusion: The farnesyl transferase inhibitor R115777 has demonstrated clinical activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer, and the ID regimen has a significantly improved therapeutic index compared with the CD regimen.