Wafer therapy for Brain Tumors Allegheny General is participating in a new therapy for the treatment of glioblastomas, or fast-growing and highly malignant brain tumors that usually develop within the cerebrum, or the main mass of the brain. Prevalence Recent evidence suggests the prevalence of brain tumors is increasing. Glioblastomas cause about 2.5 percent of all cancer-related deaths. They are the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths among individuals ages 15 to 34. Glioblastoma treatment Conventional treatment for glioblastomas ranges from providing relief from tumor symptoms to preventing tumor growth through a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Specific treatments vary, depending upon the tumor's location, patient's age and overall health.
Even with an aggressive treatment approach using conventional therapies, many of these tumors continue to grow. Wafer therapy are being investigated and now used to help prolong survival. Carmustine is a nitrosourea oncolytic agent. Carmustine is homogeneously distributed in the copolymer matrix. On exposure to the aqueous environment of the resection cavity, the anhydride bonds in the copolymer are hydrolyzed, releasing carmustine, carboxyphenoxypropane, and sebacic acid.