Asparaginase: no myelosuppression; AE: hyperglycemia, hemorrhage (including ICH), thromboembolism, pancreatitis... (used in ALL and NK-T cell lymphoma/leukemia)
Asparaginase hydrolyzes L-asparagine to ammonia and L-aspartic acid, leading to depletion of asparagine. Leukemia cells, especially lymphoblasts, require exogenous asparagine; normal cells can synthesize asparagine. Asparagine depletion in leukemic cells leads to inhibition of protein synthesis and apoptosis. Asparaginase is cycle-specific for the G1 phase of the cell cycle.
