Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DACARBAZINE versus GLIADEL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DACARBAZINE versus GLIADEL.
DACARBAZINE vs GLIADEL
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Alkylating agent; inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis by forming covalent bonds with DNA, leading to cross-linking and strand breaks. Also inhibits purine synthesis and has some activity as a methylating agent.
GLIADEL (carmustine implant) is a biodegradable wafer that delivers carmustine, a nitrosourea alkylating agent, directly into the tumor resection cavity. Carmustine alkylates DNA and RNA, leading to cross-linking and inhibition of DNA replication, ultimately causing cell death. It is cell cycle phase nonspecific.
2.4-4.5 mg/kg IV daily for 10 days every 28 days; or 250 mg/m2 IV daily for 5 days every 21 days; or 375-450 mg/m2 IV single dose every 21-28 days.
Gliadel (carmustine) implant is administered intraoperatively as 8 wafers, each containing 7.7 mg carmustine, placed in the resection cavity after tumor debulking. Maximum dose is 61.6 mg (8 wafers).
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateDacarbazine + Digoxin
"Dacarbazine may decrease the cardiotoxic activities of Digoxin."
Clinical Note
moderateDacarbazine + Digitoxin
"Dacarbazine may decrease the cardiotoxic activities of Digitoxin."
Clinical Note
moderateDacarbazine + Deslanoside
"Dacarbazine may decrease the cardiotoxic activities of Deslanoside."
Clinical Note
moderateDacarbazine + Acetyldigitoxin
"Dacarbazine may decrease the cardiotoxic activities of Acetyldigitoxin."
Terminal half-life: 5 hours (range 3-8 h) after IV administration; biphasic decay with initial half-life ~19 min.
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 1.3 hours for the active dianhydrogalactitol metabolite. Clinical context: short half-life supports local interstitial delivery with minimal systemic accumulation.
Renal: 40-50% unchanged; hepatic: 30-50% as metabolites (primarily 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide); <10% fecal.
Primarily renal (60-70% as unchanged drug and metabolites) and biliary/fecal (15-20%). Approximately 10-15% is eliminated via exhaled air as CO2.
Category D/X
Category C
Alkylating Agent
Alkylating Agent