asparaginase at a glance
Medicine class
Antineoplastic enzyme
Licensed use
Part of combination treatment for ALL in children and adults
Administration
Spectrila is given by intravenous infusion in hospital
Key monitoring
Includes liver, pancreatic, glucose, lipid and coagulation tests
What is asparaginase used for?
Spectrila is licensed as part of combination anticancer therapy.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in adults.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children, including infants.
How does asparaginase work?
Asparaginase converts asparagine into aspartic acid and ammonia. Many ALL cells cannot replace asparagine efficiently, so depletion disrupts protein production and limits their survival.
How to take asparaginase
Spectrila is not taken by mouth. Specialist staff reconstitute and dilute the powder, then give it as an intravenous infusion in hospital, where severe allergic reactions can be treated. It must not be given as a rapid intravenous bolus.
Tell staff immediately about itching, flushing, rash, swelling, dizziness or breathing difficulty during the infusion.
Before treatment, tell the team about previous reactions, pancreatitis, thrombosis, serious bleeding or liver disease.
Food does not affect administration because Spectrila is given intravenously.
asparaginase side effects
Common or expected effects
- Allergic reactions, including flushing, rash, hives, swelling or breathlessness
- High blood glucose
- Low albumin and swelling
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain
- Tiredness
- Changes in liver tests, blood lipids or blood-clotting results
Get urgent medical advice
- Anaphylaxis
- Pancreatitis, often causing severe abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
- Blood clots or serious bleeding
- Severe liver injury, including jaundice or liver failure
- Diabetic ketoacidosis or another severe blood-glucose disturbance
- Seizures, confusion or visual disturbance associated with neurological complications
asparaginase in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are lacking, while animal findings and the medicine's mechanism indicate potential fetal harm. Spectrila should be avoided during pregnancy unless specialist clinicians judge it clinically necessary. Discuss pregnancy, fertility preservation and reliable contraception with the cancer team; oral contraceptives alone are not considered sufficiently reliable in this setting.
asparaginase while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether asparaginase enters human milk. Because serious effects in a breastfed infant are possible, breastfeeding should be stopped during Spectrila treatment after discussion with the oncology and maternity teams.
asparaginase interactions
Treatment order and laboratory monitoring matter. Tell the team about all prescribed, non-prescribed and complementary products.
Vincristine
Toxicity may be additive, so specialists control the administration sequence.
Methotrexate
Asparagine depletion can alter its anticancer effect, so treatment order is protocol-controlled.
Cytarabine
Prior asparaginase exposure may reduce cytarabine activity, whereas the opposite sequence may be synergistic.
Glucocorticoids
Combined treatment may increase coagulation changes and thrombosis risk.
Common questions about asparaginase
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is asparaginase used for?
It is used with other anticancer treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children and adults.
Is asparaginase chemotherapy?
It is an antineoplastic enzyme used as part of combination chemotherapy, although its mechanism differs from conventional cytotoxic medicines.
How is Spectrila given?
Specialist staff give it as an intravenous infusion in hospital after reconstituting and diluting the powder.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.