PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF L- ASPARAGINASE MICELLES FOR THE TREATMENT OF LEUKEMIA (ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA)

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematologic malignancy that predominantly occurs in children between 2 and 10 years of age. L-asparaginase is an integral component of treatment for patients with ALL and since its introduction into pediatric treatment protocols in the 1960s, survival rates in children have progressively risen to nearly 90%. All currently available asparaginases share the same mechanism of action - the deamination and depletion of serum asparagine levels - yet each displays a markedly different pharmacokinetic profile. Pegylated asparaginase derived from the bacterium E. coli is used as first-line therapy; however, up to 30% of patients develop a treatment-limiting hypersensitivity reaction. Studies have shown that with adequate dosing, therapeutic levels of L. asparaginase activity can be achieved, and patients switched to L. asparaginase due to hypersensitivity can obtain outcomes similar to patients who do not experience a hypersensitivity reaction. Therapeutic drug monitoring may be required to ensure that therapeutic levels of asparaginase activity are maintained.