Suppression of farnesyltransferase activity in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome: current understanding and recommended use of tipifarnib.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) incidence in the United States increases with age. Given the progressive ageing of the general population, incidence of these diseases is likely to continue to rise in the future. There is an acute need for therapeutic developments because of the poor prognosis of these diseases. Since the knowledge of molecular genetics in AML and MDS has expanded recently, targeted therapeutics should offer an exciting new frontier for advancement. Of all the targeted inhibitors developed, tipifarnib represents one of the few compounds with some activity as a single agent. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: Described in this review are the molecular targets of tipifarnib, safety and tolerability of the drug, chemistry, and clinical efficacy in AML. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: The reader will gain a thorough understanding of tipifarnib as it relates to the current and future use of the drug in AML. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The future of tipifarnib, along with other molecularly-targeted drugs, lies in achieving a better understanding of leukemia biology and harnessing the activity of this agent using predictive biomarkers for improved patient selection.