GLIADEL® Wafers

What is the GLIADEL® wafer?

The GLIADEL® wafer is a biodegradable polymer loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent BCNU used for the treatment of recurrent gliomas. It was approved by the FDA in 1995.

After surgical removal of the brain tumor, GLIADEL® wafers are soaked with a chemotherapy drug (BCNU) and are implanted in the space where the tumor was. The wafers destroy the remaining tumor cells.

This is a local drug delivery technique that eliminates the side effects of systemic chemotherapy. Standard chemotherapy affects cancer cells and healthy cells and can cause side effects like fatigue and hair loss.