title: [Treatment of metastasized carcinoid tumor of the ileum and cecum with recombinant alpha-2b interferon].
abstract: Seven patients with progressive ileal or caecal carcinoid tumors and liver metastases were treated with human recombinant alpha-interferon (IFN alfa-2b) at a dosage of 2-4 x 10(6) U daily or every other day subcutaneously. Six patients had symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome. No change of tumor size lasting 4 to 40+ months (median, 18 months) was noted in 6 patients, and 1 patient had hepatic tumor progression. A decrease in urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid by more than 50% lasting 2-11 months (median, 4) was observed in 5 patients. Four patients were completely or partially relieved of flushing, diarrhea, obstruction or abdominal pain. The side-effects were negligible with the exception of mild fever, headache and confusion only during the first days of therapy. Treatment with IFN alfa-2b offers good palliation to patients with disseminated ileal or caecal carcinoid tumor and carcinoid syndrome.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D002430:Cecal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D007078:Ileal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008303:Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
vernacular_title: Zur Behandlung des metastasierten Karzinoids von Ileum und Caecum mit rekombinantem Interferon alpha-2b.