Phase I/II Trial of R115777 in Patients With Recurrent Malignant Glioma

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the maximum tolerated dose of tipifarnib in patients with recurrent or progressive malignant glioma receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs. (Stratum II in the phase I portion of this study closed to accrual effective 07/16/2001.) (Phase I completed effective 10/2/2001.) (Phase II open only to patients requiring resection and who provide surgical tissue samples [effective 3/13/2003].)
• Define the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of this drug in this patient population.
• Assess for evidence of antitumor activity of this drug in these patients.
• Assess for evidence of inhibition of farnesyl protein transferase (FTase) on peripheral blood monocytes as a surrogate endpoint of effective biologic activity of this drug in these patients.
• Determine the efficacy of this drug as measured by 6-month progression-free survival and objective tumor response in these patients.
• Evaluate further the safety profile of this drug in these patients.
• Correlate treatment response with inhibition of FTase in peripheral blood monocytes in patients treated with this drug.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to their pretreatment medications (not receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs [EIAEDs] vs receiving EIAEDs with or without steroids).

Patients receive oral tipifarnib twice daily on days 1-21. Courses repeat every 4 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

• Phase I (completed 10/2/2001): Cohorts of 3-6 patients from stratum II receive escalating doses of tipifarnib until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. (Stratum II in the phase I portion of this study closed to accrual effective 07/16/2001.)
• Phase II (open only to patients requiring resection and who provide surgical tissue samples [effective 3/13/2003]): Once the MTD is determined, additional patients with glioblastoma multiforme from stratum II are accrued to receive treatment with tipifarnib at the recommended phase II dose.