Metastatic carcinoid and islet cell tumours of the pancreas: a phase II trial of the efficacy of combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cisplatin.

A phase II trial of chemotherapy in carcinoid and islet cell pancreatic tumours has been conducted with the FAP protocol: 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 per day (5-FU) for 3 days, 50 mg/m2 doxorubicin on day 2, and 90 mg/m2 cisplatin on day 2, repeated every 4 weeks. 24 patients, 20 non-pretreated and 4 pretreated, were included. For non-pretreated patients we observed 1 complete response and 2 partial responses. The response rate was 15% (95% confidence interval 0-31%). No response was observed in the pretreated patients. The toxicity was mainly digestive and haematological with 7 patients experiencing vomiting grade 3 and 3 patients with leucopenia grade 3. We conclude that the FAP protocol is of poor efficiency in endocrine tumours.