| abstract |
The present invention comprises low molecular weight peptidyl compounds that inhibit the farnesyl-protein transferase. Furthermore, these compounds differ from the mono- or dipeptidyl analogs previously described as inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase in that they do 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. Further contained in this invention are chemotherapeutic compositions containing these farnesyl transferase inhibitors and methods for their production. |