[Clinical experiences with polyethylene glycol-bound E. coli L-asparaginase in patients with multiple recurrences of acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

The efficiency and toxicity of E. coli-L-Asparaginase coupled to polyethyleneglycol (PEG-ASP) was investigated in 5 patients with second relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PEG-ASP was administered at a dose of 2000 U/m2 as infusion over 2 hrs. every 2 weeks. Following an initial single agent phase, PEG-ASP was combined with prednisone, vincristine, adriamycin and methotrexate i.t. Following induction, all 5 patients were in third remission. The remissions lasted from 3 to 9 months, median 4 months. The toxicity was transient and mild. Also in patients sensitized against native L-Asparaginase no anaphylactic reactions were observed.