Articles

PEG-asparaginase in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

BJH - volume 4, issue 4, december 2013

V. Mondelaers MD, T. Bauters PharmD, PhD, B. De Moerloose MD, PhD, Y Benoit MD, PhD

Summary

Asparaginase is an essential compound of combination chemotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children and adults. Essentially, three preparations of asparaginase are used in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: native Escherichia coli asparaginase, Erwinia chrysanthemi asparaginase and PEG-asparaginase. Although PEG-asparaginase seems to have some advantages over the other asparaginase preparations, its clinical use in Europe is limited to second-line therapy after allergic reactions to native asparaginase. This is in contrast to the United States, where PEG-asparaginase has been approved as first-line treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This report describes the properties, clinical benefits and side effects of PEG-asparaginase.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2013;4(4): 138–143)

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Cost-minimisation analysis of PEG-L-Asparaginase versus native L-Asparaginase for the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Belgium

BJH - volume 4, issue 4, december 2013

T. Bauters PharmD, PhD, V. Mondelaers MD, B. De Moerloose MD, PhD, H. Robays PharmD, Y Benoit MD, PhD

Summary

PEG-L-Asparaginase (Oncaspar®) is a major compound of antineoplastic combination therapy for reinduction in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children and adults with known hypersensitivity. In the United States, it has been approved for many years as first-line treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Its clinical benefits have been extensively described. In this report, a cost-minimisation analysis comparing the direct cost of PEG-L-asparaginase with that of native E. coli and Erwinia L-asparaginase treatment is described.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2013; 4(4): 144–147)

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