ArticleSurgical neurology international2016
Safety and efficacy of carmustine (BCNU) wafers for metastatic brain tumors.
Article in Surgical neurology international, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Endovascular intra-arterial infusion for cerebral glioblastoma.Surgical neurology international · 2026Article
- Carmustine Wafers (Gliadel) in Brain Metastases: Revisiting an Old Concept With New Insights.Cureus · 2025Article
- Versatile tissue-injectable hydrogels capable of the extended hydrolytic release of bioactive protein therapeutics.Bioengineering & translational medicine · 2024Article
- Insight into lipid-based nanoplatform-mediated drug and gene delivery in neuro-oncology and their clinical prospects.Frontiers in oncology · 2023Review
- Non-Woven Sheet Containing Gemcitabine: Controlled Release Complex for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment.Polymers · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCarmustine (BCNU) wafers (Gliadel) prolongs local disease control and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with malignant gliomas. However, in metastatic brain tumors, there is a paucity of evidence in support of its safety and efficacy. The goal of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of Gliadel wafers in patients with metastatic brain tumors.
methodsWe retrospectively reviewed the University of Washington experience with Gliadel wafers for metastatic brain tumors between 2000 and 2015.
resultsGliadel wafers were used in 14 patients with metastatic brain tumors during the period reviewed. There were no postoperative seizures, strokes, or hemorrhages. There was one postoperative wound infection necessitating return to the operating room. The mean time to tumor progression (n = 7) and death (n = 5) after Gliadel wafer implantation was 2.5 and 2.9 years, respectively. Age was the only variable affecting PFS in patients receiving Gliadel wafers. Patients <53 years old (n = 7) had a PFS of 0.52 years, whereas patients >53 years old (n = 7) had a PFS of 4.29 years (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference in PFS in relation to presenting Karnofsky Performance Status (P = 0.26), number of brain metastasis (P = 0.82), tumor volume (P = 0.54), prior surgery (P = 0.57), or prior radiation (P = 0.41). There were no significant differences in the mean survival in relationship to any variable including age.
conclusionsBCNU wafers are a safe and a potentially efficacious adjunct to surgery and radiation for improving local disease control in metastatic brain tumors. Larger studies, however, are needed to examine overall efficacy and tumor specific efficacy.
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