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Asparaginase: How to Better Manage Toxicities in Adults

  • Leukemia (A Aguayo, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review aims to help oncologists who predominantly treat adults better understand and manage asparaginase associated toxicities and prevent unnecessary discontinuation or reluctance of its use.

Recent Findings

Given the data supporting the benefit of incorporating multiple doses of asparaginase in pediatric type regimens, it is prudent to promote deeper understanding of this drug, particularly its toxicities, and its use so as to optimize treatment of ALL.

Summary

Although asparaginase is associated with a variety of toxicities, the vast majority are not life threatening and do not preclude repeat dosing of this important drug. Understanding the pharmacology and toxicity profile of asparaginase is critical to dosing asparaginase appropriately in order to minimize these toxicities.

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Data Availability

The authors confirm that the data described in this case are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, 90630, USA

    Hoda Pourhassan, Vinod Pullarkat & Ibrahim Aldoss

  2. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Dan Douer

Authors
  1. Hoda Pourhassan
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  2. Dan Douer
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  3. Vinod Pullarkat
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  4. Ibrahim Aldoss
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ibrahim Aldoss.

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Conflict of Interest

Hoda Pourhassan: none. Dan Douer: Advisory boards for and lecture and research funding from Pfizer, Amgen, Servier, Spectrum, Jazz, Gilead, and Bristol Myers Squibb. Vinod Pullarkat: Advisory board fees and fees for serving on a speaker’s bureau from AbbVie, Genentech, Pfizer, Jazz, Novartis, Servier, and Amgen; consultancy for AbbVie. Ibrahim Aldoss: Advisory boards for Amgen, Kite pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, JAZZ and Agios Pharmaceuticals, and is a consultant for Autolus Therapeutics and Amgen, research support by MacroGenics and Abbvie.

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Pourhassan, H., Douer, D., Pullarkat, V. et al. Asparaginase: How to Better Manage Toxicities in Adults. Curr Oncol Rep 25, 51–61 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-022-01345-6

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