Phase 1 study of lonafarnib (SCH 66336) and imatinib mesylate in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who have failed prior single-agent therapy with imatinib.

BACKGROUND

Lonafarnib is an orally bioavailable nonpetidomimetic farnesyl transferase inhibitor with significant activity against BCR-ABL-positive cell lines and primary human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. Lonafarnib can inhibit the proliferation of imatinib-resistant cells and increases imatinib-induced apoptosis in vitro in cells from imatinib-resistant patients.

METHODS

The authors conducted a phase 1 study of lonafarnib in combination with imatinib in patients with CML who failed imatinib therapy. The starting dose level for patients with chronic phase (CP) disease was imatinib, 400 mg/day, plus lonafarnib at a dose of 100 mg twice daily. The starting dose levels for accelerated phase (AP) and blast phase (BP) disease were 600 mg/day and 100 mg twice daily, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 23 patients were treated (9 with CP, 11 with AP, and 3 with BP) for a median of 25 weeks (range, 4-102 weeks). Of those with CP disease, 2 patients had grade 3 (according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0]) dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) at the 400 + 125-mg dose, including diarrhea (2 patients), vomiting (1 patient), and fatigue (1 patient). In patients with AP/BP disease, DLTs were observed at the 600 + 125-mg dose and was comprised of diarrhea (1 patient) and hypokalemia (1 patient). Eight patients (35%) responded; 3 with CP disease achieved a complete hematologic response (CHR) (2 patients) and a complete cytogenetic response (1 patient). Three patients with AP disease responded (2 CHR, 1 partial cytogenetic response), and 2 patients with BP disease demonstrated hematologic improvement. Pharmacokinetics data suggest no apparent increase in exposure or changes in the pharmacokinetics of either lonafarnib or imatinib when they are coadministered.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study indicate that the combination of lonafarnib and imatinib is well tolerated and the maximum tolerated dose of lonafarnib is 100 mg twice daily when combined with imatinib at a dose of either 400 mg or 600 mg daily.