[Biotherapy of neuroendocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas].

Biotherapy of hormonal symptoms and tumour growth is a mainstay in the therapy of metastatic neuroendocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Symptomatic relief can be achieved by somatostatin analogues and interferon, either alone or in combination. The effect on tumour growth is less convincing although a stabilization of disease is recorded in almost 50% of patients. Interferon treatment should mainly be considered for tumours with a low proliferation index.