|
Title
|
|
|
|
A dose-escalation study of recombinant interferon-alpha in patients with a metastatic carcinoid-tumor
|
|
|
Author
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Language
|
|
|
|
English
|
|
|
Source (journal)
|
|
|
|
European journal of cancer. - Oxford, 1990, currens
|
|
|
Publication
|
|
|
|
Oxford
:
1992
|
|
|
ISSN
|
|
|
|
0959-8049
[print]
1879-0852
[online]
|
|
|
Volume/pages
|
|
|
|
28 A
:1
(1992)
, p. 75-78
|
|
|
ISI
|
|
|
|
A1992HG07200021
|
|
|
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
|
|
|
|
|
|