Metastatic jejunal VIPoma: beneficial effect of combination therapy with interferon-alpha and 5-fluorouracil

Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 Jan;95(1):289-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.01711.x.

Abstract

The VIPoma syndrome is rare. It is usually caused by a neuroendocrine tumor located in the pancreas. Somatostatin analogs and interferon-a can be helpful in the symptomatic control of the disease, but the efficacy of chemotherapy in metastatic disease is limited. We report the case of a 32-yr-old patient who had a primary intestinal VIPoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis and hepatic metastases. Somatostatin analogs and conventional chemotherapy regimens were not effective on VIPoma syndrome and tumor progression. The combination of 5- fluorouracil and interferon-alpha was associated with a major clinical improvement and tumor regression. Further investigations should evaluate the place of such a combination as a first line treatment for patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Jejunal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vipoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Vipoma / drug therapy*
  • Vipoma / secondary*

Substances

  • Interferon-alpha
  • Fluorouracil