Interferons

The most researched interferon in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors is interferon alfa (IFN alfa). Comparable to somatostatin analogues, the most pronounced effects of IFN alfa are inhibition of disease progression and symptom relief, with approximately 75% of patients reporting the resolution of diarrhea or flushing.[1] IFN alfa, like other IFNs studied in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (e.g., IFN gamma and human leukocyte interferon), has substantial adverse effects, including alopecia, anorexia, fatigue, weight loss, fever, a flu-like syndrome, and myelosuppression. However, IFN alfa may show greater antitumor activity than somatostatin analogues.[13] Both single-agent and multiagent chemotherapeutics appear to have little role in the management of these essentially chemoresistant tumors; no protocol has shown objective tumor response rates greater than 15%.[1]