A phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of tipifarnib in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid malignancies

KRAS G12C inhibitor combination therapies: current evidence and challenge

Although KRAS G12C inhibitors have proven that KRAS is a "druggable" target of cancer, KRAS G12C inhibitor monotherapies have demonstrated limited clinical efficacy due to primary and acquired resistance mechanisms. Multiple combinations of KRAS G12C inhibitors with other targeted therapies, such as RTK, SHP2, and MEK inhibitors, have been investigated in clinical trials to overcome the resistance. They have demonstrated promising efficacy especially by combining KRAS G12C and EGFR inhibitors for KRAS G12C-mutated colorectal cancer. Many clinical trials of combinations of KRAS G12C inhibitors with other targeted therapies, such as SOS1, ERK, CDK4/6, and wild-type RAS, are ongoing. Furthermore, preclinical data have suggested additional promising KRAS G12C combinations with YAP/TAZ-TEAD inhibitors, FAK inhibitors, and farnesyltransferase inhibitors. The combinations of KRAS G12C inhibitors with immunotherapies and chemotherapies have also been investigated, and the preliminary results were reported. More recently, KRAS-targeted therapies not limited to KRAS G12C are being developed, potentially broadening the treatment landscape of KRAS-mutated cancers. Rationally combining KRAS inhibitors with other therapeutics is likely to play a significant role in future treatment for KRAS-mutated solid tumors.

Radioresistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Biological bases and therapeutic implications

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is strongly associated with alcohol and tobacco consumption. Lately, the incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related tumors has shown a significant increase, and HPV-related tumors show distinctive features if compared with the HPV-negative counterpart. Locally advanced HNSCC can be treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy, but early recurrences sometimes occur. Relapses are often related to an intrinsic radioresistance of the tumors. Alterations in intracellular pathways, primarily involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA repair, can lead to radioresistance. Preclinical and clinical evidence highlighted that 3 main pathways, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and the p53 signaling cascades, play a crucial role in radioresistance development. A future approach may consist in the association of radiotherapy (RT) and selective inhibition of the key pathways involved in radioresistance. Phase I, II, and III clinical trials are currently testing these novel treatment strategies.

A phase I multicenter study of continuous oral administration of lonafarnib (SCH 66336) and intravenous gemcitabine in patients with advanced cancer

We conducted a phase I study to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and activity of lonafarnib plus gemcitabine. Subjects received oral lonafarnib twice daily and gemcitabine on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days; multiple dose levels were explored. Lonafarnib had no apparent effect on gemcitabine PK. Mean lonafarnib half-life ranged from 4 to 7 hr; median T(max) values ranged from 4 to 8 hr. Two patients had partial response; seven patients had stable disease at least 6 months. Oral lonafarnib at 150 mg a.m./100 mg p.m. plus gemcitabine at 1,000 mg/m(2) is the maximum tolerated dose with acceptable safety and tolerability.