title: Role of interferon-alpha in patients with neuroendocrine tumors: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interferon alpha (IFNα) is used sparingly in the management of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) due to toxicity and perceived limited efficacy. Other medical therapeutic options include somatostatin analogues and molecular-targeted agents, as well as chemotherapy and radionuclide targeted-therapy. The aim of the present study was to perform a retrospective analysis of patients treated with IFNα.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were identified from the NET database. Radiological, biochemical and symptomatic response were assessed. Progression-free survival (PFS), adverse events and toxicities were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients were treated with IFNα, with a mean age of 60.1 (range=38-85) years; eight patients (23%) withdrew before 3 months, one (3%) had complete response; there was one partial response; 25 patients (71%) had at least three months of stable disease. The median PFS was 25 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFNα demonstrated efficacy and was reasonably tolerated. IFNα may still have a role in small-volume diffuse disease, in syndromic patients where there is resistance to somatostatin analogue, or as a bridge to other therapies.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Tumour Unit, ENETS Centre of Excellence, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mirvis
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Tumour Unit, ENETS Centre of Excellence, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Dalvinder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandair
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Tumour Unit, ENETS Centre of Excellence, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Tumour Unit, ENETS Centre of Excellence, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Mullan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohmaduvesh
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Tumour Unit, ENETS Centre of Excellence, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toumpanakis
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Tumour Unit, ENETS Centre of Excellence, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K. m.caplin@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caplin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha
keywords: Interferon-alpha; neuroendocrine tumours