FARNESYLTRANSFERASE INHIBITORS VERSUS RAS INHIBITORS

Over the past few yeats, the idea that farnesyl-protein transferase (F PTase) inhibitors might be effective antiproliferative/antitumor agent s has been realized in studies of cultured cells and in rodent models of cancer. Most of the studies with FPTase inhibitors have focused on inhibiting the growth of ras-transformed cells in vitro or the growth of ras-dependent tumors in mice. More recently, it has been recognized that the antiproliferative effect of FPTase inhibitors may extend bey ond ras-driven tumors. It now seems likely that the ability of FPTase inhibitors to reverse the malignant phenotype results, at least in par t, from inhibiting the farnesylation of proteins other than Ras. (C) C urrent Biology Ltd ISSN 1367-5931.