II. Indications

  1. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (FDA approved in adults and children)

III. Mechanism

  1. Asparaginase is an enzyme extracted from Escherichia coliBacteria
    1. A similar enzyme is extracted from the BacteriaErwinia carotovora, for use in asparaginase Hypersensitivity
    2. Another Asparaginase source is the BacteriaErwinia Chrysanthemi
  2. Asparaginase hydrolyzes L-Asparagine to L-Aspartic Acid and ammonia
    1. Results in deficiency of the conditional Essential Amino Acid, Asparagine, and inhibiting Protein synthesis
    2. Susceptible cells (esp. leukemic cells) are arrested in G1 phase of the Cell Cycle, and undergo apoptosis
      1. Leukemic cells lack the enzyme , preventing Asparaginase replacement
      2. Normal cells, in contrast, contain adequate Asparagine synthase to replenish Asparagine

IV. Dosing

  1. See other references for disease specific dosing protocols

V. Safety

  1. Avoid in Lactation
  2. Avoid in pregnancy (all trimesters)
    1. Use reliable Contraception

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Related Studies

Ontology: ASPARAGINASE (C0003993)

Definition (NCI) An enzyme isolated from the bacterium Escherichia coli or the bacterium Erwinia carotovora with antileukemic activity. Asparaginase hydrolyzes L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia in leukemic cells, resulting in the depletion of asparagine, inhibition of protein synthesis, cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, and apoptosis in susceptible leukemic cell populations. Asparagine is critical to protein synthesis in leukemic cells; some leukemic cells cannot synthesize this amino acid de novo due to the absent or deficient expression of the enzyme asparagine synthase. The E. carotovora-derived form of asparaginase is typically reserved for cases of asparaginase hypersensitivity.
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A drug that is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is being studied in the treatment of some other types of cancer. It is an enzyme taken from the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). It breaks down the amino acid asparagine and may block the growth of tumor cells that need asparagine to grow.
Definition (MSH) A hydrolase enzyme that converts L-asparagine and water to L-aspartate and NH3. EC 3.5.1.1.
Definition (PDQ) An enzyme isolated from the bacterium Escherichia coli or the bacterium Erwinia carotovora. Asparagine is critical to protein synthesis in leukemic cells, which cannot synthesize this amino acid due to the absence of the enzyme asparagine synthase. Asparaginase hydrolyzes L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia, thereby depleting leukemic cells of asparagine and blocking protein synthesis and tumor cell proliferation, especially in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This agent also induces apoptosis in tumor cells. The E. carotovora-derived form of asparaginase is typically reserved for cases of asparaginase hypersensitivity. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41146&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41146&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C286" NCI Thesaurus)
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Enzyme (T126) , Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein (T116)
MSH D001215
SnomedCT 387104005, 18811003, 371014004, 18780003, 370969007
English Asparaginase, Asparaginase II, Asparagine Deaminase, Colaspase, Deaminase, Asparagine, EC 3.5.1.1, ASNase, ASP-1, Asparaginase-E.Coli, L asparagine amidohydrolase, asparaginase (medication), Crisantaspase, ASPARAGINASE, Asparaginase [Chemical/Ingredient], colaspase, l-asparaginase, l asparaginase, asparaginase, L-asparaginase (substance), L-Asparagine amidohydrolase, A-ase, ASN-ase, Asparaginase preparation, L-Asparaginase, L-asparaginase preparation, L-asparaginase preparation (product), Asparaginase (substance), L-asparaginase, L-ASP, L-asparagine amidohydrolase, L-asparaginase preparation (substance), L-Asparagine Amidohydrolase, Lcf-ASP
Swedish Asparaginas
Spanish preparado de L - asparaginasa, L-asparaginasa (producto), preparado de L-asparaginasa (producto), preparado de asparaginasa, L-asparaginasa, preparado de L-asparaginasa, ASN - asa, A - asa, L - asparagina amidohidrolasa, colaspasa, asparaginasa II, L - asparaginasa, L - asparaginasa (sustancia), asparaginasa (sustancia), asparaginasa, preparado de L - asparaginasa (sustancia), preparado de L-asparaginasa (sustancia), Asparaginasa
Czech asparaginasa
Finnish Asparaginaasi
Italian Asparagina deaminasi, Colaspase, Asparaginasi II, Asparaginasi
Russian ASPARAGINAZA, АСПАРАГИНАЗА
Japanese アスパラギナーゼ, アスパラギナーゼ2
Croatian ASPARAGINAZA
Polish Asparaginaza
Norwegian Asparaginase, Asparagin deaminase, Colaspase, Asparaginase II
French Asparaginase
German Asparaginase
Portuguese Asparaginase