(a SPEAR a ji nase e ko lye)
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (in combination with other chemotherapy)
Known hypersensitivity to asparaginase (E. coli-derived) or any component of the formulation; hepatic insufficiency, pancreatitis, pregnancy, breast-feeding, recent yellow fever vaccination, concurrent administration with phenytoin
Note: Dose, frequency, number of doses, and start date may vary by protocol and treatment phase.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; Canadian labeling): IM, IV:
Daily administration: 200 to 1,000 units/kg/day for 28 consecutive days; continue induction therapy for an additional 14 days if not in remission or begin maintenance therapy if in remission
Intermittent administration: 400 units/kg on Monday and Wednesday and 600 units/kg on Friday; repeat for 4 weeks; continue induction therapy for an additional 2 weeks if not in remission or begin maintenance therapy if in remission
Hyper-CVAD regimen (off-label dosing): IV 20,000 units weekly for 4 doses (starting on day 2) during either months 7 and 19 or months 7 and 11 of intensification phase (Thomas 2010)
Larson regimen (off-label dosing): SubQ: 6000 units/m2/dose on days 5, 8, 11, 15, 18, and 22 (induction phase) and on days 15, 18, 22, and 25 (early intensification phase) (Larson, 1995)
Linker regimen (off-label dosing): IM:
Remission induction: 6000 units/m2/dose on days 17-28; if bone marrow on day 28 is positive for residual leukemia: 6000 units/m2/dose on days 29-35 (Linker, 1991)
Consolidation (Treatment A; cycles 1, 3, 5, and 7): 12,000 units/m2/dose on days 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, and 14 (Linker, 1991)
Lymphoblastic lymphoma (off-label use): Hyper-CVAD regimen: IV: 20,000 units weekly for 4 doses (starting on day 2) for 2 cycles (months 7 and 11) during maintenance phase (Thomas 2004)
Refer to adult dosing.
Note: Dose, frequency, number of doses, and start date may vary by protocol and treatment phase.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): Children and Adolescents: Refer to adult dosing.
CCG 1922 protocol (off-label dosing): IM: 6,000 units/m2/dose 3 times weekly for 9 doses beginning either on day 2, 3, or 4 (induction phase) and 6,000 units/m2/dose on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 6 doses beginning day 3 (delayed intensification phase) (Bostrom 2004)
DFCI-ALL Consortium protocol 00-01 (off-label dosing): IM: 25,000 units/m2 for 1 dose (induction phase) and 25,000 units/m2/dose weekly for 30 weeks (intensification phase) (Vrooman 2013)
DFCI-ALL Consortium protocol 95-01 (off-label dosing): IM: 25,000 units/m2 for 1 dose on day 4 (induction phase) and 25,000 units/m2/dose weekly for 20 weeks (intensification phase) (Moghrabi 2007)
Hyper-CVAD regimen (off-label dosing): Adolescents ≥13 years: Refer to adult dosing.
Lymphoblastic lymphoma (off-label use): Adolescents >15 years: Refer to adult dosing.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer 's labeling.
Use is contraindicated in patients with hepatic insufficiency. The following adjustments have been recommended for hepatotoxicity during treatment (Stock 2011):
ALT/AST >3 to 5 times ULN: Continue therapy.
ALT/AST >5 to 20 times ULN: Delay next dose until transaminases <3 times ULN.
ALT/AST >20 times ULN: Discontinue therapy if takes longer than 1 week for transaminases to return to <3 times ULN.
Direct bilirubin <3 mg/dL: Continue therapy.
Direct bilirubin 3.1 to 5 mg/dL: Hold asparaginase and resume when direct bilirubin <2 mg/dL; consider switching to alternate asparaginase product.
Direct bilirubin >5 mg/dL: Discontinue asparaginase; do not substitute other asparaginase products; do not make up for missed doses.
Reconstitute each vial with 4 mL sterile water for injection; rotate gently, do not shake. For IM administration, the US manufacturer recommended reconstitution of the lyophilized powder with 2 mL NS to a concentration of 5000 units/mL; however, some institutions reconstitute with 1 mL NS for IM use, resulting in a concentration of 10,000 units/mL. Shake well, but not too vigorously. A 5 micron filter may be used to remove fiber-like particles in the solution (do not use a 0.2 micron filter; has been associated with loss of potency).
Standard IM dilution: 5,000 units/mL (10,000 units/mL has been used by some institutions)
Standard IV dilution: Dilute in 50 to 250 mL NS or D5W
May be administered IM (preferred for intermittent administration) or IV; has been administered SubQ (off-label route; Larson, 1995) in specific protocols. May administer corticosteroids 1 to 2 days prior to initiating reinduction therapy (to prevent hypersensitivity reaction). Observe patients for 1 hour after administration; have epinephrine, diphenhydramine, and hydrocortisone at the bedside. A physician should be readily accessible.
IM: Doses should be given as a deep intramuscular injection into a large muscle; volumes >2 mL should be divided and administered in 2 separate sites.
IV: Infuse over at least 30 minutes through the side arm of a NS or D5W infusion.
Intact vials of powder should be refrigerated at 2 ‚ °C to 8 ‚ °C (36 ‚ °F to 48 ‚ °F). Reconstituted solution should be used immediately after preparation, although is stable for 3 hours at room temperature or 72 hours refrigerated.
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling. [DSC] = Discontinued product
Solution Reconstituted, Injection:
Elspar: 10,000 units (1 ea [DSC])
Stable in D5W, NS.
Dexamethasone (Systemic): Asparaginase (E. coli) may increase the serum concentration of Dexamethasone (Systemic). This is thought to be due to an asparaginase-related decrease in hepatic proteins responsible for dexamethasone metabolism. Monitor therapy
CBC with differential, amylase, lipase, triglycerides, liver function prior to and weekly during therapy, coagulation parameters (baseline and prior to each injection), blood glucose, uric acid. Monitor for allergic reaction; monitor for onset of abdominal pain and mental status changes. Monitor vital signs during administration.
Frequency not defined.
Cardiovascular: Cerebrovascular accident (hemorrhagic stroke and thrombotic stroke [Morgan, 2011]), thrombosis (including cerebral thrombosis)
Central nervous system: Central nervous system disease (adults; includes delusion, disorientation, mild depression, Parkinsonian-like syndrome, personality disorder, seizure), cerebral hemorrhage, cerebrovascular hemorrhage (Morgan, 2011)
Endocrine & metabolic: Amenorrhea, decreased glucose tolerance, hyperammonemia (with clinical signs of metabolic encephalopathy [eg, impaired consciousness with coma, confusion, and stupor]), hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypocholesterolemia, increased uric acid, weight loss
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain (infrequent), acute pancreatitis (may be fatal), cholestatic injury, diarrhea (infrequent), intestinal perforation (rare), nausea (frequent, but rarely severe; may be secondary to increased blood urea nitrogen and increased uric acid), vomiting (frequent, but rarely severe; may be secondary to increased blood urea nitrogen and increased uric acid)
Genitourinary: Azoospermia
Hematologic: Antithrombin III deficiency, blood coagulation disorder (change in hemostatic function), bone marrow depression, decreased clotting factors (factors VII, VIII, IX, and X), decreased plasminogen, hypofibrinogenemia, prolonged partial thromboplastin time, prolonged prothrombin time
Hepatic: Hepatic injury, hepatoxicity (usually mild and regressive, but may be fatal rarely), hyperbilirubinemia, increased serum alkaline phosphatase, increased serum ALT, increased serum AST (mild), jaundice, liver steatosis
Hypersensitivity: Allergic reactions (includes anaphylactic shock, anaphylaxis, bronchospasm, edema, hypotension, laryngeal edema, skin rash, urticaria; onset usually within 1 hour of administration and risk increasing with increasing number of exposures)
Immunologic: Increased serum globulins (beta and gamma)
Infection: Septicemia (during bone marrow depression)
Renal: Increased blood urea nitrogen, renal failure
Respiratory: Respiratory distress (with retrosternal pressure)
Miscellaneous: Fever
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Allergic reactions: [Canadian Boxed Warning]: Allergic reactions may occur during therapy, particularly in patients with known hypersensitivity to other forms of L-asparaginase. Observe for reactions following administration; reactions generally occur 30 to 60 minutes following administration (although may also occur beyond that time). Immediate treatment for hypersensitivity reactions should be available during administration. Discontinue if serious allergic reaction occurs. Prior exposure to asparaginase is a risk factor for allergic reactions; IV administration (compared to IM or SubQ administration) and younger age also may be associated with hypersensitivity reactions (Stock 2011; Woo 2000). Patients who have an allergic reaction to E. coli asparaginase may also react to asparaginase (Erwinia) or to pegaspargase.
- Coagulopathy: Increased prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and hypofibrinogenemia may occur; cerebrovascular thrombosis and hemorrhage have been reported; monitor coagulation parameters at baseline and periodically during and after therapy. Use with caution in patients with an underlying coagulopathy. Replacement therapy should be instituted if fibrinogen <1g/L or ATIII <60%; if ineffective, treatment should preferably be suspended and resumed only when the laboratory parameters have normalized.
- Hepatotoxicity: [Canadian Boxed Warning]: Adverse effects on liver function may be observed including exacerbation of preexisting liver impairment (due to prior therapy or underlying disease). Physicians should carefully consider therapeutic benefits versus toxicity risks. Altered liver function tests (eg, increased AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and decreased serum albumin, plasma fibrinogen) may occur; fulminant hepatic failure has also occurred. Fatty liver may be observed on biopsy. Use with caution and monitor liver function tests at least weekly during therapy; discontinue therapy for any significant changes.
- Hyperammonemia: May induce excessive ammonia production; monitor for signs of metabolic encephalopathy (confusion, stupor, coma).
- Hyperglycemia: May cause hyperglycemia/glucose intolerance (may be irreversible); cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have been observed. Monitor blood glucose as clinically necessary.
- Neurotoxicity: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has been observed in patients treated with asparaginase (in combination with other chemotherapy agents). Monitor for signs/symptoms of PRES (eg, altered mental status, headache, hypertension, seizures, visual disturbances); interrupt therapy for suspected PRES. Control blood pressure and closely monitor for seizure activity.
- Pancreatitis: May cause serious and possibly fulminant or fatal pancreatitis; promptly evaluate patients with abdominal pain. May consider continuing therapy for asymptomatic chemical pancreatitis (amylase or lipase >3 times ULN) or only radiologic abnormalities; monitor closely for rising amylase and/or lipase levels (Stock 2011). Discontinue permanently for clinical pancreatitis (eg, vomiting, severe abdominal pain) with amylase/lipase elevation >3 times ULN for >3 days and/or development of a pancreatic pseudocyst. Avoid alcohol use (Stock 2011).
- Thrombotic events: Serious thrombosis, including sagittal sinus thrombosis may occur; discontinue with serious thrombotic events. Anticoagulation prophylaxis during therapy may be considered in some patients (Farge 2013). The risk for thrombosis may be higher in adult patients (Stock 2011).
- Tumor lysis syndrome: Appropriate measures must be taken to prevent tumor lysis syndrome and subsequent hyperuricemia and uric acid nephropathy; monitor, consider antihyperuricemic therapy, hydration and urinary alkalization.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Experienced physician: [Canadian Boxed Warning]: Should be administered under the supervision of an experienced cancer chemotherapy physician in a setting where full resuscitative facilities are immediately available.
- Medication error prevention: Do not interchange E. coli asparaginase for Erwinia asparaginase or pegaspargase; ensure the proper formulation, route of administration, and dose prior to administration. The E. coli and the Erwinia strains of asparaginase differ slightly in their gene sequencing, and have slight differences in their enzyme characteristics. Both are highly specific for asparagine and have <10% activity for the D-isomer.
Use is contraindicated.
In leukemic cells, 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.
IV: Slightly higher than plasma volume; <1% CSF penetration
Systemically degraded
IM: 14 to 24 hours
IM: 34 to 49 hours; IV: 8 to 30 hours
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Patient may experience nausea or vomiting. Have patient report immediately to prescriber signs of pancreatitis (severe abdominal pain, severe back pain, severe nausea, or vomiting), signs of high blood sugar (confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, hunger, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit), signs of liver problems (dark urine, feeling tired, lack of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, light-colored stools, vomiting, or yellow skin or eyes), signs of kidney problems (urinary retention, blood in urine, change in amount of urine passed, or weight gain), signs of bleeding (vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, coughing up blood, blood in the urine, black, red, or tarry stools, bleeding from the gums, abnormal vaginal bleeding, bruises without a reason or that get bigger, or any bleeding that is very bad or that will not stop), signs of severe cerebrovascular disease (change in strength on one side is greater than the other, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, or change in eyesight), signs of DVT (edema, warmth, numbness, change in color, or pain in the extremities), signs of infection, angina, severe loss of strength and energy, severe dizziness, passing out, shortness of breath, severe headache, or confusion (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.