Serum asparaginase activities and asparagine concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid after a single infusion of 2,500 IU/m2 PEG asparaginase in children with ALL treated according to protocol COALL-06-97

Abstract

The treatment intensity achieved with PEG ASNase in the present study appears to be acceptable based on the surrogate of serum ASNase activity. However, the pharmacological objective of ASNase treatment, that is, complete CSF ASN depletion with an ASNase activity >100 U/l, was not ensured. Nevertheless, one must also be aware that the minimum ASN concentration required for leukaemic cell growth is yet to be established.