Gliadel (carmustine) is an anticancer medication that’s implanted in the brain after surgery to treat adults with certain types of brain cancers called gliomas and glioblastomas. It’s in the form of a wafer and is placed in the area where the tumor was removed. Side effects include brain swelling, nausea, vomiting, constipation, slow wound healing, depression, and fever.
Brain cancers:
Certain newly-diagnosed glioma, in addition with surgery and radiation
Glioblastoma that keeps coming back, in addition with surgery
Gliadel (carmustine) is a wafer that’s placed in the brain after surgical removal of the brain tumor. The wafers then release the chemotherapy medication carmustine into the brain tissue.
Carmustine is an alkylating agent, which means that it interferes with the normal function of DNA. This prevents cells from dividing and growing, which leads them to die. Gliadel (carmustine) works by delivering carmustine directly into the brain, destroying cancer cells in that area.
Brain cancers:
Certain newly-diagnosed glioma, in addition with surgery and radiation
Glioblastoma that keeps coming back, in addition with surgery
Newly-diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM), first with radiation and then by itself as maintenance therapy
Newly-diagnosed or refractory anaplastic astrocytoma (grade 3 astrocytoma)
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American Brain Tumor Association. (2018). Glioma.
American Brain Tumor Association. (2022). Glioblastoma (GBM).
Arbor Pharmaceuticals. (2018). Gliadel- carmustine wafer [package insert]. DailyMed.
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (n.d.). How Gliadel Wafer is used.
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. (2024). Glioblastoma.
Westphal, M.,et al. (2006). Gliadel wafer in initial surgery for malignant glioma: Long-term follow-up of a multicenter controlled trial. Acta Neurochirurgica.
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