[Streptozotocin and malignant insulinomas. Apropos of the case. Review of the literature]

Abstract

In spite of possible toxicity streptozotocin now appears to be the best treatment for malignant islet cell tumour with liver metastases, i.e. inoperable tumours with a poor prognosis either due to extension of the tumour itself or due to hypoglycemic attacks. Out of about 60 patients thus treated, 1 to 2 years survival were obtained. 22 out of 52 patients reported by Broder and Carter are still alive and one may estimate the overall percentage of favourable results at 65%. On the other hand out of another 100 patients treated elsewhere with this antineoplastic agent, only a few cases of carcinoid tumour gave encouraging results. The course of the others was not modified significantly.