Clinical and biologic activity of the farnesyltransferase inhibitor R115777 in adults with refractory and relapsed acute leukemias: a phase 1 clinical-laboratory correlative trial.

R115777 is a nonpeptidomimetic enzyme-specific inhibitor of farnesyl protein transferase (FT) that was developed as a potential inhibitor of Ras protein signaling, with antitumor activity in preclinical models. This study was a phase 1 trial of orally administered R115777 in 35 adults with poor-risk acute leukemias. Cohorts of patients received R115777 at doses ranging from 100 mg twice daily (bid) to 1200 mg bid for up to 21 days. Dose-limiting toxicity occurred at 1200 mg bid, with central neurotoxicity evidenced by ataxia, confusion, and dysarthria. Non-dose-limiting toxicities included reversible nausea, renal insufficiency, polydipsia, paresthesias, and myelosuppression. R115777 inhibited FT activity at 300 mg bid and farnesylation of FT substrates lamin A and HDJ-2 at 600 mg bid. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), an effector enzyme of Ras-mediated signaling, was detected in its phosphorylated (activated) form in 8 (36.4%) of 22 pretreatment marrows and became undetectable in 4 of those 8 after one cycle of treatment. Pharmacokinetics revealed a linear relationship between dose and maximum plasma concentration or area under the curve over 12 hours at all dose levels. Weekly marrow samples demonstrated that R115777 accumulated in bone marrow in a dose-dependent fashion, with large increases in marrow drug levels beginning at 600 mg bid and with sustained levels throughout drug administration. Clinical responses occurred in 10 (29%) of the 34 evaluable patients, including 2 complete remissions. Genomic analyses failed to detect N-ras gene mutations in any of the 35 leukemias. 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. (Blood. 2001;97:3361-3369)

Detection of mutated K12-ras in histologically negative lymph nodes as an indicator of poor prognosis in stage II colorectal cancer.

Stage II colorectal carcinoma is characterized by negative lymph node pathology as determined by conventional microscopic examination. These patients generally do not receive adjuvant therapy although 20%-30% will die from metastatic disease. To determine whether K-ras mutations at codon 12 could be used as a sensitive indicator of occult lymph node metastasis in stage II colon carcinoma, a retrospective study was performed using restriction endonuclease-mediated selective polymerase chain reaction (REMS-PCR) amplification. Of 106 colonic tumors analyzed, 46 were identified as positive for a K12-ras mutation in the primary tumor. Multiple lymph node samples from 38 of these 46 patients were examined by a sensitive nested PCR protocol for the presence of a K12-ras mutation. Of these 38 patients, 14 had 1 or more positive lymph nodes by PCR (37%) and 24 were negative for the mutation (63%). Of the 14 patients with a K12-ras mutation detected in lymph nodes, 8 died of the disease within 5 years (57%) compared to only 4 of the 24 patients with ras-negative lymph nodes (17%). The difference in time to death from disease, stratified using K12-ras status of lymph nodes, was statistically significant (P = 0.036; log-rank test). These results suggest K-ras mutation status of lymph nodes in patients with stage II colon cancer might identify a subgroup of patients who are more likely to develop recurrent and/or metastatic disease and benefit from adjuvant therapy. Larger studies are indicated to determine whether detection of K-ras mutation positivity in histologically negative lymph nodes portends a poor prognosis and to determine whether more aggressive use of adjuvant therapy is warranted.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor R115777 in advanced cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum-tolerated dose, toxicities, and pharmacokinetic profile of the farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor R115777 when administered orally bid for 5 days every 2 weeks. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with a median age of 58 years received 85 cycles of R115777 using an intrapatient and interpatient dose escalation schema. Drug was administered orally at escalating doses as a solution (25 to 850 mg bid) or as pellet capsules (500 to 1300 mg bid). Pharmacokinetics were assessed after the first dose and the last dose administered during cycle 1. RESULTS: Dose-limiting toxicity of grade 3 neuropathy was observed in one patient and grade 2 fatigue (decrease in two performance status levels) was seen in four of six patients treated with 1,300 mg bid. The most frequent clinical grade 2 or 3 adverse events in any cycle included nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, anemia, and hypotension. Myelosuppression was mild and infrequent. Peak plasma concentrations of R115777 were achieved within 0.5 to 4 hours after oral drug administration. The elimination of R115777 from plasma was biphasic, with sequential half-lives of about 5 hours and 16 hours. There was little drug accumulation after bid dosing, and steady-state concentrations were achieved within 2 to 3 days. The pharmacokinetics were dose proportional in the 25 to 325 mg/dose range for the oral solution. Urinary excretion of unchanged R115777 was less than 0.1% of the oral dose. One patient with metastatic colon cancer treated at the 500-mg bid dose had a 46% decrease in carcinoembryonic antigen levels, improvement in cough, and radiographically stable disease for 5 months. CONCLUSION: R115777 is bioavailable after oral administration and has an acceptable toxicity profile. Based upon pharmacokinetic data, the recommended dose for phase II trials is 500 mg orally bid (total daily dose, 1, 000 mg) for 5 consecutive days followed by 9 days of rest. Studies of continuous dosing and studies of R115777 in combination with chemotherapy are ongoing.

Degradation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid by mictobial populations from an aerated lagoon.

The ferric chelate of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was biologically degraded by a mixed population of microorganisms present in an aerated lagoon receiving this chemical in its feed. As determined radiorespirometrically, 28% of the acetate-2-C and 30% of the ethylene position of the ammonium ferric chelate of [14C]EDTA was recovered as 14CO2 after 5 days. In a separate experiment using gas liquid chromatography and the sodium ferric chelate, as much as 89% disappearance of EDTA (0.1% wt/vol) was observed during a similar time period. Optimum 14CO2 evolution was observed at a pH value between 7 and 8 and at room temperature. Degradation of NH4Fe-[2-14C]EDTA was stimulated by the addition of either unlabeled NaFe-EDTA, nitrilotriacetic acid or ethylenediamine, and inhibited by the addition of a variety of different sugars and amino acids. Consistent with the biological nature of this degradation, little or no 14CO2 evolution was observed after heat treatment of the microorganisms at 100 C for 10 min, or after the addition of antibiotics to the incubation mixtures. Gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectral analyses were performed to demonstrate EDTA disappearance and to identify possible intermediates of EDTA degradation.

Ecology of iron-oxidizing bacteria in pyritic materials associated with coal.

A technique was developed for measuring (14)CO(2) uptake by chemolithotrophic bacteria directly in pyritic materials associated with coal and coal refuse. There was good correlation between (14)CO(2) uptake, as determined by this technique, and the most probable number of iron-oxidizing bacteria. Maximal (14)CO(2) uptake occurred in coal refuse material 2 to 3 years old, and only slight incorporation was demonstrated in fresh material or material 40 years old. Samples taken from the surface of the coal refuse pile always demonstrated maximal (14)CO(2) uptake, and in most samples, only slight activity was demonstrated at depths below 8 to 10 cm. Optimal uptake of (14)CO(2) by natural samples occurred at 20 to 30 C and at a moisture content of between 23 and 35%. In addition to chemolithotrophic bacteria, heterotrophic fungi and yeasts were also routinely isolated in high numbers from acidic coal refuse. In contrast, acidophilic, heterotrophic bacteria were either absent or present in low numbers in such acidic samples.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylation and aspartate synthesis in Acetobacter suboxydans.

Dialyzed extracts of Acetobacter suboxydans ATCC 621 catalyze (14)CO(2) assimilation in the presence of phosphoenolpyruvate and a divalent cation. The formation of (14)C-oxalacetate was demonstrated and found not to be dependent upon the presence of orthophosphate or diphosphonucleotides. Oxalacetate synthesis was stimulated by orthophosphate and inhibited by aspartate. All attempts to demonstrate a reversible carboxylation mechanism have failed. (14)C-aspartate was synthesized when phosphoenolpyruvate, H(14)Co(3) (-), pyridoxal phosphate, and glutamate were added to dialyzed extracts. Chromatographic and spectrophotometric analyses and chemical degradation further demonstrate the presence of a reversible aspartate aminotransferase. The function of oxalacetate synthesis in a bacterium that reportedly lacks an operative tricarboxylic acid cycle is discussed.