A Patent Review on the Use of L-Asparaginase in the Treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract

: L-asparaginase (L-asparagine amino hydrolase, E.C.3.5.1.1) is the most important chemotherapeutic drug used in treating Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), decreasing blood asparagine rates causing apoptosis in tumor cells. However, pharmacological drugs cause several side effects difficulting treatments. Thus, searches for new sources of L-asparaginase or enzyme modifications focus on discovering new products to use in therapy.This article reviewed published patents from 2000 up to the first semester of 2020 related to the treatment of ALL using L-asparaginase. Many organisms have been shown as potential viable L-asparaginase producers for use in the treatment of ALL. However, this patent review shows that few of these organisms are gaining attention to becoming bioproducts for the market. It is expected that drugs in the testing phase and patents related to the treatment of ALL and other cancers will become real products. Besides, a treatment using an amino acid depletion approach, now referring to asparagine, altogether with a compound that directly interferes with the expression of the asparagine synthase gene, is more suitable for the treatment of ALL and possibly to other cancers.

Changes in free amino acid contentrations in blood serum of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphomas after chemotherapy

“…Длительный дефицит аспарагина ведет к снижению синтеза белка и, в конечном итоге, к инициации апоптоза клеток новообразования. В ряде лейкозных бластов отмечено также отсутствие или очень низкий уровень аспарагин-синтетазы: фермента, который катализирует синтез аспарагина de novo [12,13]. Кроме противоопухолевой терапии ферментными препаратами, активно изучается также возможность исключения аминокислот из нутритивной поддержки с использованием элиминационных подходов в диетотерапии [14].…”