Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the clinical efficacy of the farnesyltransferase inhibitor, tipifarnib, combined with letrozole in patients with advanced breast cancer and disease progression following antiestrogen therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Postmenopausal women with estrogen-receptor-positive advanced breast cancer that had progressed after tamoxifen were given 2.5 mg letrozole once daily and were randomly assigned (2:1) to tipifarnib 300 mg (TL) or placebo (L) twice daily for 21 consecutive days in 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response rate. RESULTS: Of 120 patients treated with TL (n = 80) or L (n = 40), 113 were evaluable for response. Objective response rate was 30% (95% CI; 20-41%) for TL and 38% (95% CI; 23-55%) for L. There was no significant difference in response duration, time to disease progression or survival. Clinical benefit rates were 49% (TL) and 62% (L). Tipifarnib was generally well tolerated; a higher incidence of drug-related asymptomatic grade 3/4 neutropenia was observed for TL (18%) than for L (0%). Tipifarnib population pharmacokinetics were similar to previous studies, with no significant difference in trough letrozole concentrations between the TL and L groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adding tipifarnib to letrozole did not improve objective response rate in this population of patients with advanced breast cancer.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s10549-007-9726-1

Type

Journal article

Journal

Breast Cancer Res Treat

Publication Date

07/2008

Volume

110

Pages

327 - 335

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Breast Neoplasms, Double-Blind Method, Estrogen Receptor Modulators, Farnesyltranstransferase, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Nitriles, Quinolones, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Triazoles