Background: Asparaginase is a key component of chemotherapy protocols for the treatment
of lymphoblastic malignancies among children. Adequate asparagine depletion is an
important factor to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. Methods: Over a 3.5 year
period, 106 patients were monitored for asparaginase activity (329 samples) in a single
center of the Hungarian Pediatric Oncology–Hematology Group. In Hungary, three asparaginase
products are available: native E. coli ASNase (Kidrolase), a pegylated form of this
enzyme (Pegaspargase) and another native product from Erwinia chrysanthemi (Erwinase).
A retrospective data analysis was performed. Results: In 81% (268/329) of our patients,
AEA levels were in the optimal therapeutic range of over 100 IU/L. Of 106 patients,
13 (12%) were diagnosed with ‘silent inactivation’. Conclusions: Monitoring of AEA
can help to identify patients with ‘silent inactivation’ and their asparaginase therapy
can thus be optimized.
