Authors: Colin Watts Laurence Dunn Keyoumars Ashkan Michael Jenkinson Paul Smith
Publish Date: 2012/10/30
Volume: 155, Issue: 1, Pages: 61-62
Abstract
The safety and efficacy of Carmustine wafers Gliadel in patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma has recently been highlighted in two thoughtprovoking articles in Acta Neurochirurgica 1 2 The use of this technology shows significant variation in uptake in the UK and the reasons for this are clearly multifactorial 3 A recurring theme has been that the efficacy data on which the clinical use of Gliadel has been promoted was not sufficient to make a definitive statement regarding its use The Phase III trial recruited 224 patients Analysis of all 120 patients receiving Gliadel showed modest benefit 139 months median survival compared to 116 months for the placebo group However only 101/120 patients had a histological diagnosis of glioblastoma When this subgroup was analysed no significant benefit was observed 4 When the National Institute for Clinical Excellence NICE evaluated Gliadel TA121 http//publicationsniceorguk/carmustineimplantsandtemozolomideforthetreatmentofnewlydiagnosedhighgradegliomata121
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