Carmustine is a nitrogen mustard β-chloro-nitrosourea compound that is used as an alkylating agent. It forms interstrand crosslinks in DNA, which prevents DNA replication and transcription leading to apoptosis. Carmustine is also reported to inhibit glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase, and lipoamide dehydrogenase. Carmustine has been tested in clinical trials as a cytostatic agent for Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myeloma, malignant melanoma, glioblastoma, and other brain tumors.
