Dramatic response of a metastatic carcinoid tumour to a combination of interferon and octreotide

The combination of alpha-interferon and octreotide has rarely been tested in the treatment of carcinoid syndrome. We describe a patient who was moribund when treated with interferon alone, but enjoyed a dramatic response leading to disappearance of all symptoms, normalization of dU-5-HIAA, and restoration of his normal life-style when octreotide was initiated. Neither interferon nor octreotide could be withdrawn without reappearance of the symptoms, suggesting that the combination of alpha-interferon and octreotide may have synergistic effects in carcinoid syndrome.