title: Treatment of metastatic carcinoid tumour with recombinant interferon alfa.
abstract: 14 patients with metastatic carcinoid tumour were treated with recombinant interferon alfa 6-30 x 10(6) IU weekly for 3-25 (median 6.5) months. A decrease in the 24-h urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) level to less than 50% of the pretreatment value was observed in 5 of the 10 cases with an elevated urinary 5-HIAA level. In 4 of the 5 remaining patients, the 5-HIAA level decreased 30-50% from the pretreatment value. 5 of the 9 evaluable patients with carcinoid syndrome experienced symptomatic relief, but none became symptom-free. Severe toxicity was not observed. The median time to progression was 4.5 months, and, in patients with a greater than 50% decrease in 24-h urinary-5-HIAA, it was 17 months. Objective regression in tumour size could not be demonstrated in any of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joensuu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kumpulainen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gröhn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008303:Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid