Inhibitor of farnesyl-protein transferase

Abstract

The present invention comprises an analog of the CA.sub.1 A.sub.2 X motif of the protein Ras that is modified by farnesylation in vivo. This CA.sub.1 A.sub.2 X analog inhibits the farnesyl-protein transferase and the farnesylation of certain proteins. Furthermore, this CA.sub.1 A.sub.2 X analog differs from most compounds previously described as inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase in that it does not have a thiol moiety. The lack of the thiol offers unique advantages in terms of improved pharmacokinetic behavior in animals, prevention of thiol-dependent chemical reactions, such as rapid autoxidation and disulfide formation with endogenous thiols, and reduced systemic toxicity. The compound of the instant invention also incorporates a cyclic amine moiety in the A.sup.1 position of the motif. Further contained in this invention are chemotherapeutic compositions containing this farnesyl transferase inhibitor and methods for its production.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.