Holland J F, Ohnuma T
Cancer Treat Rep. 1981;65 Suppl 4:123-30.
Asparaginase was found ineffective in improving induction frequency of acute lymphocytic leukemia of children from vincristine and prednisone, but prolonged remission duration. Prolongation of remission duration was accomplished more effectively and at lower toxic cost by administration of asparaginase after the vincristine and prednisone treatment had been completed. Asparaginase is markedly more effective against human leukemia T-cells in vitro than against several types of B-lymphocytes. This is consistent with in vivo experience. Leukemic T-cells resistant to asparaginase have been induced in vitro. Deficiency of other amino acids causes absolute cessation of RNA biosynthesis, constituting evidence for other amino acid targets critical to leukemic cell survival.
天冬酰胺酶在提高长春新碱和强的松对儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病的诱导缓解率方面无效，但能延长缓解期。在长春新碱和强的松治疗完成后给予天冬酰胺酶，能更有效地延长缓解期，且毒性代价更低。天冬酰胺酶在体外对人白血病T细胞的作用明显比对几种B淋巴细胞类型的作用更有效。这与体内实验结果一致。已在体外诱导出对天冬酰胺酶耐药的白血病T细胞。其他氨基酸的缺乏会导致RNA生物合成完全停止，这为白血病细胞存活所必需的其他氨基酸靶点提供了证据。
