[Treatment of metastatic carcinoid tumors with interferon-alpha. Five cases].
OBJECTIVE
Interferon has been proposed in treatment of metastatic carcinoid tumours with varied results.


METHODS
Five patients with metastatic carcinoid tumours were treated for 1 year with rIFN alpha 2b at a dose of 5 MU. three times a week during the first month and 10 MU. three times a week during the following months. Carcinoid syndrome was present in all cases.


RESULTS
Clinical response with improvement of diarrhoea and flushs was obtained in all cases. Urinary excretion of 5 HIAA and blood serotonin were reduced in 2/5 and 4/5 patients respectively. IFN treatment led to a stabilization of the metastatic tumour in all cases. Recurrence of symptoms was observed within three months following the end of the IFN treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings confirm the contribution of IFN in the treatment of metastatic carcinoid tumours.
Votte
A
A
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, CHU Nord, Amiens.
Iglicki
F
F
Sévenet
F
F
Tabah
I
I
Dupas
J L
JL
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
Traitement des tumeurs carcinoïdes métastatiques par interféron alpha. Cinq observations.