GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) is indicated in newly-diagnosed high-grade malignant glioma patients as an adjunct to surgery and radiation. GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) is indicated in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme patients as an adjunct to surgery.

Each GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) contains 7.7 mg of carmustine, resulting in a dose of 61.6 mg when eight wafers are implanted. It is recommended that eight wafers be placed in the resection cavity if the size and shape of it allows. Should the size and shape not accommodate eight wafers, the maximum number of wafers as allowed should be placed. Since there is no clinical experience, no more than eight wafers should be used per surgical procedure.

Handling and Disposal^1-7

Wafers should only be handled by personnel wearing surgical gloves because exposure to carmustine can cause severe burning and hyperpigmentation of the skin. Use of double gloves is recommended and the outer gloves should be discarded into a biohazard waste container after use. A surgical instrument dedicated to the handling of the wafers should be used for wafer implantation. If repeat neurosurgical intervention is indicated, any wafer or wafer remnant should be handled as a potentially cytotoxic agent.

GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) should be handled with care. The aluminum foil laminate pouches containing GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) should be delivered to the operating room and remain unopened until ready to implant the wafers. The outside surface of the outer foil pouch is not sterile.

Instructions for Opening Pouch Containing GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine)

Figure 1: To remove the sterile inner pouch from the outer pouch, locate the folded corner and slowly pull in an outward motion.

Figure 2: Do NOT pull in a downward motion rolling knuckles over the pouch. This may exert pressure on the wafer and cause it to break.

Figure 3: Remove the inner pouch by grabbing hold of the crimped edge and pulling upward.

Figure 4: To open the inner pouch, gently hold the crimped edge and cut in an arc-like fashion around the wafer.

Figure 5: To remove the GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) , gently grasp the wafer with the aid of forceps and place it onto a designated sterile field.

Once the tumor is resected, tumor pathology is confirmed, and hemostasis is obtained, up to eight GLIADEL® Wafers (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant) may be placed to cover as much of the resection cavity as possible. Slight overlapping of the wafers is acceptable. Wafers broken in half may be used, but wafers broken in more than two pieces should be discarded in a biohazard container. Oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel®) may be placed over the wafers to secure them against the cavity surface. After placement of the wafers, the resection cavity should be irrigated and the dura closed in a water tight fashion.

Unopened foil pouches may be kept at ambient room temperature for a maximum of six hours at a time.

GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) is available in a single dose treatment box containing eight individually pouched wafers. Each wafer contains 7.7 mg of carmustine and is packaged in two aluminum foil laminate pouches. The inner pouch is sterile and is designed to maintain product sterility and protect the product from moisture. The outer pouch is a peelable overwrap. The outside surface of the outer pouch is not sterile.

GLIADEL® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) must be stored at or below -20ºC (-4ºF).

NDC: 58063-100-01

CAUTION: FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS DISPENSING WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION.

REFERENCES

1. Recommendations for the Safe Handling of Parenteral Antineoplastic Drugs, NIH Publication No. 83-2621. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

2. AMA Council Report, Guidelines for Handling Parenteral Antineoplastics. JAMA, 1985;253(11):1590-1592.

3. National Study Commission on Cytotoxic Exposure—Recommendations for Handling Cytotoxic Agents. Available from Louis P Jeffrey, ScD., Chairman, National Study Commission on Cytotoxic Exposure, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, 179 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

4. Clinical Oncological Society of Australia, Guidelines and Recommendations for Safe Handling of Antineoplastic Agents. Med J Australia, 1983;1:426-428.

5. Jones RB, et al: Safe Handling of Chemotherapeutic Agents: A Report from the Mount Sinai Medical Center. CA— A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 1983; (Sept/Oct) 258-263.

6. American Society of Hospital Pharmacists Technical Assistance Bulletin on Handling Cytotoxic and Hazardous Drugs. Am J. Hosp Pharm, 1990;47:1033-1049.

7. OSHA Work-Practice Guidelines for Personnel Dealing with Cytotoxic (Antineoplastic) Drugs. Am J Hosp Pharm, 1986;43: 1193-1204.

Manufactured by: MGI PHARMA, INC. Bloomington, MN 55437. Rev 12/2006.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/6/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.