Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining R115777 with gemcitabine in treating patients with advanced cancer.

Detailed Description
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OBJECTIVES: Determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose limiting toxicities of tipifarnib in combination with gemcitabine in patients with advanced cancer. Investigate potential pharmacokinetic interactions between tipifarnib and gemcitabine in these patients. Determine the efficacy of this regimen in patients with measurable or evaluable disease. Evaluate the quality of life of these patients. OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of tipifarnib. Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and oral tipifarnib every 12 hours beginning on day 2. Treatment continues every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients each receive escalating doses of tipifarnib until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is reached. The MTD is defined as the dose at which fewer than one third of the patients experience dose limiting toxicity. Quality of life is assessed before treatment, on day 22 of each course, and at the end of treatment. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 40 patients will be accrued for this study.

Official Title
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A Phase I, Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) Trial to Determine the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Chronic Oral Administration of Farnesyl Transferase Inhibitor R115777 in Combination With Gemcitabine in Subjects With Advanced Incurable Cancer

Conditions
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Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: gemcitabine hydrochloride
* Drug: tipifarnib


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Pathologically proven advanced cancer for which no curative therapy exists PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin normal SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (no greater than 5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Renal: Creatinine normal Other: Unassisted oral or enteral intake sufficient to maintain a reasonable state of nutrition No concurrent medical condition that is likely to interfere with study participation No active visual disturbances that require intervention beyond corrective lenses Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior bone marrow transplantation No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) No prior high dose chemotherapy with bone marrow or stem cell rescue No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormone therapy (except megestrol acetate) Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of bone marrow No concurrent radiotherapy (except palliative radiotherapy within the first 28 days of the study) Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 30 days since prior investigational therapy No concurrent investigational therapy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Drug: gemcitabine hydrochloride|nan|
|Drug: tipifarnib|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific