Toxic and antineoplastic effects of l-asparaginase: Study of mice with lymphoma and normal monkeys and report on a child with leukemia

Abstract

The toxic and antineoplastic effects of guinea pig serum L-asparaginase have been investigated. The enzyme is active against early (0 day) through late (24 day) 6C3HED subcutaneous tumors in C3H mice but whole guinea pig serum in the same doses was not at all effective against intracerebral tumors comprising the same cells. Whole guinea pig serum caused no acute toxic effects in mice with small tumors. No toxic effects were seen after administration of a partially purified L-asparaginase (PPLAFI) in C3H mice with small tumors from 0 to 2 days or in monkeys during 9 days of observation. Profuse diarrhea was observed in mice with massive tumors after PPLAFI treatment, during tumor regression. The effects of PPLAFI are described in a human with leukemia.