A pilot study of combination therapy with interferon-alpha-2a and 5-fluorouracil in metastatic carcinoid and malignant endocrine pancreatic tumours.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In view of the encouraging single agent response rates to interferon and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in malignant carcinoid and endocrine pancreatic tumours and the theoretical benefits of combination therapy with 5-FU and interferon in other tumours a study was designed to look at the feasibility of this combination, given for 12 months, in these tumours.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Patients were treated with 5-FU 750 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus every week and 3 Mega Units of recombinant interferon-alpha-2a subcutaneously 3 times per week increasing, as tolerated, to 6 then 9 MU. Fifteen patients were entered into the study.

RESULTS:

One patient died suddenly of an unrelated illness and is not assessed. None of the remaining 14 patients had radiological evidence of response to treatment, although 6 had stable disease lasting for 7 to 64 weeks (median 40 weeks). Two patients did have biochemical evidence of a response, i.e., a 50% reduction in baseline urinary 5HIAA for 26 and 52 weeks. Treatment toxicity was significant. Six patients stopped treatment prematurely because of either nausea and/or diarrhoea. Overall treatment duration ranged from 4 to 64 weeks (median 7.5 weeks).

CONCLUSION:

Overall we found the treatment to be disappointing in terms of tolerance and response rate and do not recommend its use in malignant carcinoid or endocrine pancreatic tumours.

• Authors: M J Hughes, D J Kerr, J Cassidy, M Soukop, K McGregor, N Blackburn, H Yosef, S B Kaye
• Journal: Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology (Ann Oncol) Vol. 7 Issue 2 Pg. 208-10 (Feb 1996) ISSN: 0923-7534 [Print] England
• PMID: 8777180 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Carcinoid Tumor (drug therapy, secondary)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Drug Synergism
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Pilot Projects
• Recombinant Proteins
• Treatment Outcome