Randomized phase II trial of carboplatin and paclitaxel with or without lonafarnib in first-line treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer stage IIB–IV

ObjectivesThis study evaluates whether a molecular targeted therapy with the farnesyltransferase inhibitor lonafarnib added to standard chemotherapy in first-line treatment of advanced ovarian cancer (OC) could improve progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS).Patients and MethodsWe performed a prospective randomized phase II study to compare standard therapy carboplatin (C; AUC 5) and paclitaxel (T; 175 mg/m2) in primary advanced OC with or without lonafarnib (L). Lonafarnib was given in a dose of 100 mg orally twice a day during chemotherapy and was increased afterwards to 200 mg up to six months as a maintenance therapy.Results105 patients were recruited (53 patients were randomized to receive LTC, 52 to TC). Hematologic toxicity was similar in both arms. Grade 3 and 4 non-hematological toxicity, occurred significantly more often with LTC (23% versus 4%, p = 0.005) and was associated with a higher dropout rate. PFS and OS were not significantly different among both arms. The LTC arm showed inferiority in the stratum with residual tumor of more than 1 cm: median PFS was 11.5 months (95% CI: 7.4–14.2) compared with 16.4 (95% CI: 10.3–40.4) for TC (p = 0.0141; HR = 0.36 (95% CI: 0.15–0.84)) with median OS 20.6 months (95% CI: 13.1–31.0) and 43.4 months (95% CI: 15.7–) for the TC arm (p = 0.012; HR = 0.32 (95% CI: 0.13–0.8)).ConclusionThe addition of lonafarnib did not improve PFS or OS. Patients with a residual tumor of more than 1 cm had significantly shorter PFS and OS. Incorporation of lonafarnib into future studies for primary therapy of OC is not recommended.

► The combination of the Farnesyltransferase inhibitor lonafarnib with standard chemotherapy did not prolong progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). ► In the stratum with a residual tumor of more than 1 cm the combination with lonafarnib showed significantly inferior results. ► Incorporation of lonafarnib into future studies for primary therapy of advanced ovarian cancer is not recommended.