Fluorouracil Plus Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Advanced Metastatic Carcinoid Tumors

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Interferon alfa may interfere with the growth of the cancer cells. Combining interferon alfa with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of fluorouracil plus interferon alfa in treating patients who have advanced metastatic carcinoid tumors.

Detailed Description
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OBJECTIVES: Determine the objective response rate and duration of remission in patients with advanced metastatic carcinoid tumors treated with fluorouracil and interferon alfa-2b. Determine the symptomatic response in patients treated with this regimen. Determine the toxicity of this regimen in these patients. Determine the quality of life of patients treated with this regimen. Determine the survival characteristics of patients treated with this regimen. OUTLINE: Patients receive fluorouracil IV continuously for 10 weeks and interferon alfa subcutaneously 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Treatment continues every 12 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life is assessed at baseline and at weeks 1, 7, and 11 of each course. Patients are followed every 3 months. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 50 patients will be accrued for this study.

Official Title
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A Phase II Study of Protracted Infusional 5-Fluorouracil Plus Alpha Interferon for Advanced Metastatic Carcinoid

Conditions
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Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor, Lung Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Biological: recombinant interferon alfa
* Drug: fluorouracil


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven carcinoid tumor with radiologically confirmed metastatic disease Recurrence after surgery or radiotherapy allowed Must meet at least 1 of the following conditions: Symptomatic carcinoid syndrome not controlled Other systemic symptoms (e.g., weight loss, anorexia) 24 hour urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) 100 mg or greater Bone metastases Carcinoid heart disease Carcinoid asthma Measurable disease or 24-hour urinary 5-HIAA 50 mg or greater required No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 3.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: See Disease Characteristics Pulmonary: See Disease Characteristics Other: No concurrent infection (no fever for at least 3 days prior to treatment unless fever due to tumor) No significant medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study or informed consent No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or curatively treated stage I carcinoma of the cervix Not pregnant Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior interferon therapy Chemotherapy: No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Prior endocrine therapy allowed Concurrent octreotide allowed Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Prior surgery allowed Other: No prior fluorinated pyrimidine

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Biological: recombinant interferon alfa|nan|
|Drug: fluorouracil|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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metastatic gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor, recurrent gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor, pulmonary carcinoid tumor