Cancer Health Center

Deciding on further treatment depends on many factors, including the specific cancer, prior treatment, and site of recurrence, as well as individual patient considerations. Clinical trials are appropriate and should be considered when possible. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available at the NCI Cancer.gov Web site. Attempts at re-resection are worthwhile for patients with gastrinomas, insulinomas, and glucagonomas. Somatostatin analogues will aid in control of syndromes of some of these tumors. Intra-arterial chemotherapy has been useful for a number of patients with liver metastases. Patients with hepatic-dominant disease and substantial symptoms caused by tumor bulk or hormone-release syndromes may benefit from continuous-infusion intra-arterial chemotherapy or procedures that reduce hepatic arterial blood flow to metastases (hepatic arterial occlusion with embolization or with chemoembolization). Such treatment may also be combined with systemic chemotherapy in selected patients.[1]

References:

1. Moertel CG, Johnson CM, McKusick MA, et al.: The management of patients with advanced carcinoid tumors and islet cell carcinomas. Ann Intern Med 120 (4): 302-9, 1994.