Pre-clinical development of farnesyltransferase inhibitors

Cancer Metastasis Rev. 1998 Jun;17(2):203-10. doi: 10.1023/a:1006018922878.

Abstract

ras is the oncogene most frequently found in human cancers, being detected in 30% of most human cancers and at significantly higher rates in certain cancers including pancreatic (90%) and colon (50%) [1]. Almost 10 years ago it was shown that a C-terminal lipid modification of Ras, catalyzed by a specific farnesyl-protein transferase (FPTase), was required for the function of both normal and oncogenic Ras proteins. This finding spurred the development of FPTase inhibitors (FTIs) as a potential cancer therapy directed at the ras oncogene. FTIs have exhibited potent antiproliferative activity in cell culture and animal tumor models with a surprising lack of toxicity to normal tissues. However, while FTIs were originally conceptualized as Ras-specific agents, their mechanism of action is significantly more complicated than originally envisioned.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Animals
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Drug Design
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Farnesyltranstransferase
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • ras Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases
  • Farnesyltranstransferase
  • ras Proteins