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PloS One 2019L-asparaginase (ASNase) from Escherichia coli is currently used in some countries in its PEGylated form (ONCASPAR, pegaspargase) to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia...
L-asparaginase (ASNase) from Escherichia coli is currently used in some countries in its PEGylated form (ONCASPAR, pegaspargase) to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PEGylation refers to the covalent attachment of poly(ethylene) glycol to the protein drug and it not only reduces the immune system activation but also decreases degradation by plasmatic proteases. However, pegaspargase is randomly PEGylated and, consequently, with a high degree of polydispersity in its final formulation. In this work we developed a site-specific N-terminus PEGylation protocol for ASNase. The monoPEG-ASNase was purified by anionic followed by size exclusion chromatography to a final purity of 99%. The highest yield of monoPEG-ASNase of 42% was obtained by the protein reaction with methoxy polyethylene glycol-carboxymethyl N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester (10kDa) in 100 mM PBS at pH 7.5 and PEG:ASNase ratio of 25:1. The monoPEG-ASNase was found to maintain enzymatic stability for more days than ASNase, also was resistant to the plasma proteases like asparaginyl endopeptidase and cathepsin B. Additionally, monoPEG-ASNase was found to be potent against leukemic cell lines (MOLT-4 and REH) in vitro like polyPEG-ASNase. monoPEG-ASNase demonstrates its potential as a novel option for ALL treatment, being an inventive novelty that maintains the benefits of the current enzyme and solves challenges.
Topics: Asparaginase; Binding Sites; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Chromatography, Gel; Enzyme Stability; Humans; Polyethylene Glycols; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
PubMed: 30753228
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211951 -
Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi = Chinese Journal... Dec 2022To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst after pegaspargase treatment in children. The clinical data of 6 children with...
To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst after pegaspargase treatment in children. The clinical data of 6 children with pancreatic pseudocyst after pegaspargase treatment in the Department of Pediatrics in Peking University Third Hospital from July 2018 to February 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 4 males and 2 females, and their age of onset was 9.5 (5.8, 13.0) years. The total number of pegaspargase applications was 2.5 (2.0, 3.5) times. The course from the last dose of pegaspargase to the onset of pancreatitis was 11.0 (9.0, 17.2) days, and 42.5 (35.0, 129.5) days from the onset of pancreatitis to the diagnosis of pancreatic pseudocyst. Abdominal pain was the most prominent manifestation of pancreatitis (6/6). All of the 6 children were asymptomatic when pancreatic pseudocyst was noted, and were treated conservatively at first, but one case later developed intermittent abdominal distension or nausea after eating. All the cases had pancreatic pseudocyst enlargement during the conservative treatment. Three children were treated with endoscopic ultrasound-guided transgastric drainage, and the cyst disappeared from 10 days to 4 months after the operation. The other 3 children received endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-guided transpapillary drainage, but one of them turned to surgery due to pancreatic duct stricture, and in the rest 2 children the cyst disappeared at 1 and 3 months after operation respectively. Regarding safety issues, 1 child who received ERCP-guided transpapillary drainage had acute postoperative pancreatitis, which were improved after treatment, and the other 5 had no complications. Pancreatic pseudocyst after pegaspargase chemotherapy can be asymptomatic in the early stage, and should be diagnosed with a history of pegaspargase treatment and timely imaging examination. Conservative treatment is the first choice for asymptomatic pseudocyst. When the pseudocyst enlarges, different endoscopic drainage treatments are required according to whether the pseudocyst is connected with the main pancreatic duct.
Topics: Female; Male; Humans; Child; Retrospective Studies; Asparaginase; Polyethylene Glycols; Pancreatitis
PubMed: 36444438
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112140-20220904-00779 -
The Oncologist Nov 2020Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is expected to improve local and systemic disease control and has been established as a standard therapy for several types of solid...
BACKGROUND
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is expected to improve local and systemic disease control and has been established as a standard therapy for several types of solid tumors. Considering the benefits of frontline radiation and pegaspargase in localized extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL), we conducted a phase II study on pegaspargase-based CCRT to explore an effective treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this study, 30 patients with newly diagnosed nasal ENKTL in stages IE to IIE received CCRT (radiation 50 Gy and two cycles of pegaspargase 2,500 unit/m every 3 weeks). Four courses of pegaspargase were performed after CCRT.
RESULTS
The patients completed CCRT and four cycles of pegaspargase. The complete remission (CR) rate was 90%, with a 95% confidential interval (CI) of 73.5%-97.9% after CCRT. The CR rate was 100% (95% CI, 88.4%-100%) at the end of the treatment. The 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 90.9% (95% CI, 78.4%-100%) and 92.8% (95% CI, 83.2%-100%), respectively. The major adverse events were in grades 1-2.
CONCLUSION
Preliminary data indicate that pegaspargase combined with concurrent radiotherapy for newly diagnosed patients with nasal ENKTL was efficacious and well tolerated. Registered at www.chictr.org.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
ChiCTR-OIC-15007662.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
This clinical trial, evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy by using single-drug pegaspargase for patients with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) in stage IE to IIE, showed pegaspargase combined with concurrent radiotherapy was efficacious and well tolerated. Pegaspargase has a long half-life and is easy to administer via intramuscular injection. Consequently, pegaspargase combined with concurrent radiotherapy for patients with ENKTL can be completed in the outpatient clinic.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asparaginase; Chemoradiotherapy; Female; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Polyethylene Glycols; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32627928
DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0144 -
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy Dec 2020Advanced natural killer/T cell lymphoma (NKTL) has demonstrated poor prognosis with currently available therapies. Here, we report the efficacy of anti-programmed death... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
Advanced natural killer/T cell lymphoma (NKTL) has demonstrated poor prognosis with currently available therapies. Here, we report the efficacy of anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibody with the P-GEMOX (pegaspargase, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin) regimen in advanced NKTL. Nine patients underwent six 21-day cycles of anti-PD-1 antibody (day 1), pegaspargase 2000 U/m (day 1), gemcitabine 1 g/m (days 1 and 8) and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m (day 1), followed by anti-PD-1 antibody maintenance every 3 weeks. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and genetic alterations were determined in paraffin-embedded pretreatment tissue samples using immunohistochemistry and next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis. Responses were assessed using F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Eight patients exhibited significant responses, comprising of seven complete remissions and one partial remission (overall response rate: 88.9%). After a median follow-up of 10.6 months, 6/9 patients (66.7%) remained in complete remission. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were anemia (33.3%), neutropenia (33.3%), and thrombocytopenia (33.3%); all of which were manageable and resolved. Immunochemotherapy produced a high response rate in patients with positive PD-L1 expression (5/6, 83.3%). NGS analysis suggested that STAT3/JAK3/PD-L1 alterations and ARID1A mutation were associated with immunochemotherapy efficacy. Mutation in DDX3X and alteration in epigenetic modifiers of KMT2D, TET2, and BCORL1 might indicate a poor response to immunochemotherapy. In conclusion, the anti-PD-1 antibody plus P-GEMOX regimen demonstrated promising efficacy in advanced NKTL. PD-L1 expression combined with specific genetic alterations could be used as potential biomarkers to predict therapeutic responses to immunochemotherapy.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Neoplasm; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asparaginase; Deoxycytidine; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins; Oxaliplatin; Polyethylene Glycols; Positron-Emission Tomography; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; Survival Rate; Gemcitabine
PubMed: 33376237
DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00331-3 -
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Oct 2021We evaluated effects of asparaginase dosage, schedule, and formulation on CSF asparagine in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
We evaluated effects of asparaginase dosage, schedule, and formulation on CSF asparagine in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
METHODS
We evaluated CSF asparagine (2114 samples) and serum asparaginase (5007 samples) in 482 children with ALL treated on the Total XVI study (NCT00549848). Patients received one or two 3000 IU/m IV pegaspargase doses during induction and were then randomized in continuation to receive 2500 IU/m or 3500 IU/m IV intermittently (four doses) on the low-risk (LR) or continuously (15 doses) on the standard/high risk (SHR) arms. A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model was used to estimate the duration of CSF asparagine depletion below 1 uM.
RESULTS
During induction, CSF asparagine depletion after two doses of pegaspargase was twice as long as one dose (median 30.7 vs 15.3 days, p < 0.001). During continuation, the higher dose increased the CSF asparagine depletion duration by only 9% on the LR and 1% in the SHR arm, consistent with the nonlinear pharmacokinetics of serum asparaginase. Pegaspargase caused a longer CSF asparagine depletion duration (1.3-5.3-fold) compared to those who were switched to erwinase (p < 0.001). The median (quartile range) serum asparaginase activity needed to maintain CSF asparagine below 1 µM was 0.44 (0.20, 0.99) IU/mL. Although rare, CNS relapse was higher with decreased CSF asparagine depletion (p = 0.0486); there was no association with relapse at any site (p = 0.3).
CONCLUSIONS
The number of pegaspargase doses has a stronger influence on CSF asparagine depletion than did dosage, pegaspargase depleted CSF asparagine longer than erwinase, and CSF asparagine depletion may prevent CNS relapses.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Asparaginase; Asparagine; Child; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Models, Biological; Polyethylene Glycols; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 34170389
DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04315-0 -
The Lancet. Haematology May 2024Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor sintilimab is effective in relapsed and refractory extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL), nasal type. We...
First-line sintilimab with pegaspargase, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin in advanced extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (SPIRIT): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial.
BACKGROUND
Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor sintilimab is effective in relapsed and refractory extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL), nasal type. We aimed to assess the safety and activity of sintilimab plus P-GEMOX (pegaspargase, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin) in the first-line setting for advanced ENKTL.
METHODS
The multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial was done at three medical centres in China. Patients aged 18-75 years with treatment-naive pathologically confirmed advanced ENKTL and an with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0-2 were eligible. Patients received intravenous sintilimab (200 mg on day 1), intramuscular pegaspargase (2000 U/m on day 1), intravenous gemcitabine (1 g/m on days 1 and 8), and intravenous oxaliplatin (130 mg/m on day 1) every 3 weeks for six cycles, followed by intravenous sintilimab (200 mg) every 3 weeks for up to 2 years or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. The primary endpoint was the complete response rate in the intention-to-treat population. The secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04127227. Enrolment has been completed, and follow-up is ongoing.
FINDINGS
Between Nov 29, 2019, and Sept 7, 2022, 34 eligible patients were enrolled (median age 39 years [IQR 32-55]; 25 [74%] of 34 patients were male; nine [26%] were female; and all were of Asian ethnicity). At the data cutoff (July 20, 2023), the median follow-up was 21 months (IQR 13-32). The complete response rate was 85% (29 of 34 patients, 95% CI 70-94). Five patients (15%; 95% CI 7-30) attained partial response and the ORR was 100% (34 of 34 patients). 24-month PFS was 64% (95% CI 48-86), 24-month DFS was 72% (54-95), and 36-month overall survival was 76% (52-100). The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events were neutropenia (17 [50%] of 34 patients), anaemia (10 [29%] patients), and hypertriglyceridemia (10 [29%] patients). Hypothyroidism was the most frequent immune-related adverse event (18 [53%]), including grade 3 hypothyroidism in one (3%) patient that caused treatment termination. No severe adverse events occurred. There were three deaths: one due to haemophagocytic syndrome, one due to disease progression, and one due to unknown cause, which were not considered to be treatment related.
INTERPRETATION
Combination of sintilimab with P-GEMOX seems to be an active and safe first-line regimen for patients with advanced ENKTL.
FUNDING
National Key Research and Development Program and National Natural Science Foundation of China, Guangzhou Science and Technology Program and the Clinical Oncology Foundation of Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Asparaginase; Male; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell; Female; Deoxycytidine; Gemcitabine; Polyethylene Glycols; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Oxaliplatin; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Young Adult; Adolescent
PubMed: 38554717
DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3026(24)00066-8 -
Cancer Cell Apr 2019Resistance to asparaginase, an antileukemic enzyme that depletes asparagine, is a common clinical problem. Using a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen, we found a synthetic...
Resistance to asparaginase, an antileukemic enzyme that depletes asparagine, is a common clinical problem. Using a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen, we found a synthetic lethal interaction between Wnt pathway activation and asparaginase in acute leukemias resistant to this enzyme. Wnt pathway activation induced asparaginase sensitivity in distinct treatment-resistant subtypes of acute leukemia, but not in normal hematopoietic progenitors. Sensitization to asparaginase was mediated by Wnt-dependent stabilization of proteins (Wnt/STOP), which inhibits glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)-dependent protein ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, a catabolic source of asparagine. Inhibiting the alpha isoform of GSK3 phenocopied this effect, and pharmacologic GSK3α inhibition profoundly sensitized drug-resistant leukemias to asparaginase. Our findings provide a molecular rationale for activation of Wnt/STOP signaling to improve the therapeutic index of asparaginase.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Asparaginase; Cell Death; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Humans; Jurkat Cells; Leukemia; Male; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, Transgenic; Polyethylene Glycols; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein Stability; Proteolysis; Synthetic Lethal Mutations; THP-1 Cells; Ubiquitination; Wnt Signaling Pathway; Wnt3A Protein; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
PubMed: 30991026
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2019.03.004 -
Pharmacogenomics Nov 2021To evaluate the associations between human leukocyte antigen ( variants and the rs6021191 variant in nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 () with PEG-asparaginase...
To evaluate the associations between human leukocyte antigen ( variants and the rs6021191 variant in nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 () with PEG-asparaginase hypersensitivity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated according to the Chinese Children Leukemia Group (CCLG) ALL 2018 protocol. genotyping was performed using a PCR sequence-based typing (SBT) method. rs6021191 was genotyped applying TaqMan Genotyping Assay. T-ALL and higher risk groups were at higher risk for PEG-asparaginase hypersensitivity. No association was found between rs6021191 and PEG-asparaginase hypersensitivity. *16:02 variant was associated with PEG-asparaginase allergy both in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Our results confirm that variations in might influence the development of asparaginase hypersensitivity.
Topics: Adolescent; Asparaginase; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Genotype; HLA-DRB1 Chains; Humans; Infant; Male; NFATC Transcription Factors; Polyethylene Glycols; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
PubMed: 34747637
DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2021-0107 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2022The optimal first-line treatment for extra-nodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) has not been well-defined. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of...
BACKGROUND
The optimal first-line treatment for extra-nodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) has not been well-defined. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegaspargase, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, etoposide and prednisone (COEPL) regimen combined with radiotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed ENKTL.
METHODS
Our study is a prospective, open-label clinical trial. Patients with newly diagnosed ENKTL and an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2 were eligible for enrollment. For patients with stage I/II nasal ENKTL, treatment included 2 cycles of induction COEPL regimen followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy, then by 2 cycles of COEPL regimen as consolidation. For patients with stage III/IV or primary extra-nasal ENKTL, treatment included 6-8 cycles of COEPL regimen with or without radiotherapy to local sites, and autologous stem cell transplantation was given in selected patients.
RESULTS
A total of 80 patients were enrolled. The median age was 41 years (range, 15-76 years). Sixteen patients (20%) had stage III/IV disease, and 10 (12.5%) had a PINK score≥2. Complete response and overall response rates were 75.9% and 87.3%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 41.4 months (range 2.7-76.2 months), the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 71.3% (95%CI 61.1-81.5%) and 73.3% (95%CI 63.1-83.5%), respectively. For patients with stage I/II nasal ENKTL (n=62), the 3-year PFS and OS were 78.1% and 81.2%, respectively. For patients with stage III/IV or primary extra-nasal ENKTL (n=18), 3-year PFS and OS were 48.1% and 45.7%, respectively. Major grade 3-4 adverse events were anemia (21.3%), leucopenia (22.5%), neutropenia (18.8%), and thrombocytopenia (7.6%). No treatment-related death was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Pegaspargase-COEP chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy is highly effective and safe for patients with newly diagnosed ENKTL.
PubMed: 35280751
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.839252 -
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/oncology Apr 2022Desensitization to pegaspargase has been previously attempted in patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction to pegaspargase when Erwinia asparaginase is not an...
Desensitization to pegaspargase has been previously attempted in patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction to pegaspargase when Erwinia asparaginase is not an available alternative because of supply issues. Often, these desensitizations have utilized a 3-bag method to complete the infusion. Retrospective chart review was utilized to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of a 1-bag method for pegaspargase densensitization at a single center. Pegaspargase was infused over ∼3 hours with increases to the infusion rate every 15 minutes. Fifteen pediatric patients received a total of 28 pegaspargase infusions utilizing a 1-bag method. In total, 23 of the infusions were able to be successfully completed without signs of hypersensitivity reactions. In addition, 9 of the 15 patients were able to both successfully complete all infusions during the study period and have asparaginase levels within the therapeutic range 7 to 14 days after the infusion. Four of the 5 patients that did experience a hypersensitivity reaction were able to complete the infusion, however, none of these patients had acceptable asparaginase levels postinfusion. No patient required intubation or advanced life support measures secondary to anaphylaxis. Overall, the pegaspargase method described here was successful and well tolerated in a majority of patients.
Topics: Anaphylaxis; Antineoplastic Agents; Asparaginase; Child; Drug Hypersensitivity; Humans; Polyethylene Glycols; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 34133383
DOI: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002241