What is asparaginase used to treat?

Asparaginase is a chemotherapy drug. You might have it as a treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

What are 2 primary uses for asparaginase?

Asparaginase is an enzyme that is used as a medication and in food manufacturing. As a medication, L-asparaginase is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It is given by injection into a vein, muscle, or under the skin.

Why is asparaginase used in the treatment of leukemia?

Asparaginase is used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). It works by starving tumor cells of needed nutrients and slowing tumor cell growth.

What cancers treat asparaginase?

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).

How often is asparaginase given?

Evidence from published studies suggests that Erwinia asparaginase should be administered at a dose of at least 20,000 IU/m2 3-times weekly, by either the IV or IM route. Further clinical and pharmacokinetic studies of Erwinia asparaginase will help optimize the use of this agent.

What type of chemo is asparaginase?

Drug type: L-asparaginase is an anti-cancer (“antineoplastic” or “cytotoxic”) chemotherapy drug. This medication is classified as an “enzyme.” (For more detail, see “How this drug works” section below).

What class of drug is asparaginase?

EnzymeAsparaginase / ClassificationEnzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts. Catalysts accelerate chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. Wikipedia

How much does asparaginase cost?

The mean total drug costs for Erwinia asparaginase were $126,831, which corresponds with 149 vials of Erwinia asparaginase. The costs of the drug asparaginase itself accounted for 44.1%, 74.5%, and 19.2% of the total treatment costs of the intensification phase for the three groups, respectively.

What foods contain asparaginase?

Foods rich in asparagine include dairy, whey, beef, poultry, eggs, fish, seafood, asparagus, potatoes, legumes, nuts, seeds, soy and whole grains.

Is asparaginase expensive?

Asparaginase is an expensive drug, but important in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In order to compare costs of PEGasparaginase, Erwinia asparaginase and native E.

How does PEG asparaginase work?

PEG-asparaginase is made up of the enzyme L-asparaginase that is linked to a substance called PEG, which makes the drug stay in the body longer. L-asparaginase comes from the bacterium E. coli and breaks down the amino acid asparagine. This may stop the growth of cancer cells that need asparagine to grow.

Is asparaginase found in humans?

The human asparaginase enzyme (ASPG) inhibits growth in leukemic cells – PMC. The .