title: [Significance of L-asparaginase activity and biochemical parameters evaluation in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].
abstract: L-asparaginase is one of the most important agent used in multidrug chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of malignancies which derive from lymphoid system (acute lymhoblastic leukemias and non-hodgkin lymphoma). L-asparaginase leads to enzymatic cleavage of L-asparagine (amino acid essential for lymphoblasts' growth) to ammonia and L-aspartic acid, what results in depletion of L-asparagine in a serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and finally leads to destruction of lymphoblasts, which lack ability of endogenic L-asparagine production. In the course of L-asparaginase therapy severe side effects could be observed such as: coagulation disturbances, acute pancreatitis, anaphilactic shock and other types of allergic reaction, as well as liver and CNS failure. Monitoring of L-asparaginase activity in serum is recomended in order to optimalize therapy with L-asparaginase and reducing risk of severe side effects. Continuous assessment of L-asparaginase activity during therapy gives also opportunity to detect asymptomatic inactivation of L-ASPA - so called "silent inactivation", which is cused by production of antibodies against xenogenic protein, especcialy in IgG class. This process leads to shortening of half-life of L-ASPA. The paper shows presently available monitoring methods during therapy with L-ASPA, with all their pros and cons.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Onkologii i Hematologii Dzieciecej, Polsko-Amerykański Instytut Pediatrii Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pawińska
authors.forename: Walentyna
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Balwierz
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sztefko
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czogała
mesh_terms: D001215:Asparaginase / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001215:Asparaginase