L-ASPARAGINASE: OUR ACHILLES' HEEL IN ANTICANCER CHEMOTHERAPY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev7n11-005Keywords:
Asparaginase, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin LymphomaAbstract
In 2017, patients with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), and some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were faced with the possibility of replacing their standard medication, which had been discontinued by the traditional supplier, with another one of supposedly questionable quality, produced by a different manufacturer.
The medication in question contains L-asparaginase (L-ASNase), a microbial-derived enzyme that efficiently reduces the availability of L-asparagine for cancer cells, which are unable to synthesize the amino acid.
The above event shows that we are dependent on an essential medication that is not produced domestically, making us vulnerable. In 2015-2016, the fear of a global shortage forced health authorities to acquire larger quantities of the medication at a higher cost.
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References
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