title: A dose-escalation study of recombinant interferon-alpha in patients with a metastatic carcinoid tumour.
abstract: The efficacy of interferon alpha-2b in doses up to 12 x 10(6) IU three times weekly was studied in 21 patients with a metastatic carcinoid tumour. Of these 21 patients, 19 were evaluable for response. Patients were treated with escalating dosages of interferon alpha-2b: 3 x 10(6) IU, 6 x 10(6) IU and 12 x 10(6) IU. The escalation was performed every 8 weeks when no objective tumour regression was observed. Patients were also evaluated for biochemical response and symptomatic improvement. One objective tumour regression was observed. Of the 15 patients with elevated 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion, 5 (33%) had a more than 50% decrease in 5-HIAA excretion. Relief of symptoms occurred in 11 patients (58%). This improvement was already apparent during the initial 8 weeks of treatment. Increasing the dose to 6 or 12 x 10(6) IU interferon alpha-2b did not result in further symptomatic improvement. In contrast toxicity was considerable with the higher dosages of interferon alpha-2b. It is concluded that low dose interferon alpha-2b (3 x 10(6) IU) three times weekly is as effective as higher dosages of interferon alpha-2b at ameliorating symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Veenhof
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Taal
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Dirix
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagstaff
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hensen
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Huldij
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bakker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid