Asparaginase and

Hypersensitivity reactions have occurred with all cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Reactions are most common with the taxanes, platinum compounds, asparaginases, and epipodophyllotoxins.7 Reactions range from mild (e.g., flushing and rashes) to severe (e.g., dyspnea, bronchospasm, urticaria, and hypotension). IgE-mediated type I reactions are the most common. To reduce the risk, patients are routinely pre-medicated... 

The current induction therapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) typically consists of vincristine, asparaginase, and a steroid (prednisone or dexamethasone). An anthracycline is added for higher-risk patients. 

Ronghe, M., Burke, G.A., Lowis, S.R, and Estlin, E.J. 2001. Remission induction therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia clinical and cellular pharmacology of vincristine, corticosteroids, L-asparaginase and anthracyclines. Cancer Treatment Reviews 27(6), 327-337. 

Asparagine and glutamine are converted to aspartate and glutamate, by the enzymes asparaginase and glutamin-ase, respectively ... 

Pharmacokinetics The elimination half-life of pegaspargase has been estimated to be 5.7 days, compared with a half-life of a few minutes up to 5 hours for L-asparaginase, and its volume of distribution has been estimated to be 2.1 liters/m. ... 

Penicillin and related antibiotics are inactivated by P-lactamases (Box 20-G), some of which resemble serine proteases in forming acyl enzymes with active site serine side chains.656 657 Others are zinc metallogen-zymes.658/659 Amidohydrolases such as asparaginase and glutaminase,660/661 deacetylases,662 and many other hydrolases can also be described as acyltransferases. 

Rich et al. (79) have carried out a temperature jump relaxation study of E. coli asparaginase and reported that the finding of multiple relaxation times is qualitatively consistent with the suggested subunit structure. 

D. Crowther. Asparaginase and human malignant disease. Nature 229 168 (1971). 76 T. Kcri hi J. MinnwadH H. S Hendtnm. and T. Qhnunu. Distinctive sensitivity of... 

Asparaginase and vincristine should not be used together on the same day, since simultaneous administration can cause increased vincristine toxicity. It has been suggested that this is due to a deleterious effect of asparaginase on hepatic function, reducing the metabolism of vincristine (5). 

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