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Tsegaye K, Tsehai BA, Getie B. Desirable L-asparaginases for treating cancer and current research trends. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1269282. [PMID: 38591038 PMCID: PMC11001194 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1269282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Amino acid depletion therapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment. It exploits the differences in the metabolic processes between healthy and cancerous cells. Certain microbial enzymes induce cancer cell apoptosis by removing essential amino acids. L-asparaginase is an enzyme approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The enzymes currently employed in clinics come from two different sources: Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi. Nevertheless, the search for improved enzymes and other sources continues because of several factors, including immunogenicity, in vivo instability, and protease degradation. Before determining whether L-asparaginase is clinically useful, research should consider the Michaelis constant, turnover number, and maximal velocity. The identification of L-asparaginase from microbial sources has been the subject of various studies. The primary goals of this review are to explore the most current approaches used in the search for therapeutically useful L-asparaginases and to establish whether these investigations identified the crucial characteristics of L-asparaginases before declaring their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kindu Tsegaye
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | | | - Birhan Getie
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Yamada T, Ishimaru M, Shoji T, Tomiyasu H, Tochinai R, Taguchi K, Komatsu T. Polyoxazoline-Conjugated l-Asparaginase: An Antibody-Production-Free Therapeutic Agent for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:5789-5797. [PMID: 38047730 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
l-asparaginase (ASNase), an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of l-asparagine into l-aspartic acid, is frequently used as a medication for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, when derived from bacterial sources, this enzyme can elicit side effects, including allergic or hypersensitivity reactions, owing to immune responses. Here, we describe the synthesis of polyoxazoline-conjugated ASNase (POx-ASNase) and investigate its enzyme activity, anticancer efficacy, immunogenicity, and retention in the bloodstream. The water-soluble POx was coupled with surface lysine residues of ASNase using a bifunctional cross-linker. The average number of polymers bound to each enzyme was determined as 10. Although the enzymatic activity of POx-ASNase decreased to 56% of that of native ASNase, its temperature and pH dependencies remained unaltered. Remarkably, the lyophilized powder form of POx-ASNase retained its catalytic ability for 24 months. POx-ASNase demonstrated nearly identical anticancer efficacy compared to naked ASNase against leukemia and lymphoma cells (MOLT-4, CLBL-1, and K562) while displaying no cytotoxicity toward normal cells. Animal experiments conducted using rats revealed that the POx decoration suppressed the generation of anti-ASNase IgM and IgG antibodies with no detection of anti-POx antibodies. The half-life within the bloodstream extended to 34 h, representing a 17-fold increase compared to unmodified ASNase. These findings suggest that POx-ASNase serves as an anticancer therapeutic agent, characterized by the absence of antibody production and notably extended circulation persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiga Yamada
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku 112-8551, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Marika Ishimaru
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku 112-8551, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuma Shoji
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku 112-8551, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Tomiyasu
- Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku 113-8657, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryota Tochinai
- Department of Veterinary Pathophysiology and Animal Health, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku 113-8657, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Taguchi
- Division of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30, Shibakoen, Minato-ku 105-8512, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Komatsu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku 112-8551, Tokyo, Japan
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Qin X, Costa-Silva TA, Pessoa A, Long PF. A scoping review to compare and contrast quality assurance aspects of l-asparaginase biosimilars. Int J Pharm 2023; 632:122523. [PMID: 36581108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
l-asparaginase is a first-line medicine used for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Differing quality of marketed l-asparaginase biosimilars has been reported to adversely influence treatment outcomes. Herein, the quality of l-asparaginase biosimilars intended for clinical use was reviewed in sight of quality assurance parameters using English and Chinese language database searching, which provided information for possible improvements to the manufacture of this medicine. Ten articles met inclusion criteria, and quality attributes that measured potency, specific activity, purity and host cell proteins (HCPs) were identified. Biosimilars manufactured in high-income countries represented good quality in all aspects. Biosimilars manufactured in high-middle/middle-income countries, however, suggested poorer quality control particularly over removal of HCPs. Future work should now focus on establishing pharmacopeia monographs to establish equivalent quality assurance for l-asparaginase biosimilars manufactured between countries. Standardization of the quality profile, analytical methods and the limits of critical quality parameters, are essential to ensure appropriated efficacy and safety of clinical grade l-asparaginase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianwei Qin
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tales A Costa-Silva
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Pessoa
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK; Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paul F Long
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK; Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Alqahtani A, Alhousari D, Ali A, Yaghmour G, Orgel E, Curran E, Stock W, Bhojwani D, Alachkar H. Asparaginase toxicity in Hispanic adult and pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: current understanding. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2023; 19:357-366. [PMID: 37410014 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2023.2233412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Asparaginase is essential to chemotherapy regimens for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Survival of patients with ALL has improved since incorporating asparaginase into chemotherapy backbones. Hispanic patients have a higher incidence of ALL than other ethnicities and suffer inferior outcomes. The inferior outcome of Hispanics is due to several factors, including the increased incidence of high-risk genetic subtypes and susceptibility to treatment-related toxicity. AREAS COVERED We summarize the current knowledge of asparaginase-related toxicity by comparing their incidence between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients. These toxicities include hypersensitivity, hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis, thrombosis, and hypertriglyceridemia. The PubMed database and Google Scholar were used to search for this review from October 2022 to June 2023. EXPERT OPINION Except for hepatotoxicity and hypertriglyceridemia secondary to asparaginase-based treatments, which may develop more frequently among Hispanic patients with ALL, other toxicities were comparable between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients. Nevertheless, studies with larger cohorts and more accurate capturing of Hispanic ethnicity should be conducted to fill the gaps in the current knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amani Alqahtani
- School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Diala Alhousari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amir Ali
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - George Yaghmour
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Etan Orgel
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Curran
- The Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology & Oncology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
| | - Wendy Stock
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Deepa Bhojwani
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Houda Alachkar
- School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
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Sindhu R, Manonmani HK. L-asparaginase mediated therapy in L-asparagine auxotrophic cancers: A review. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2022; 22:2393-2410. [PMID: 34994334 DOI: 10.2174/1871520622666220106103336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Microbial L-asparaginase is the most effective first-line therapeutic used in the treatment protocols of paediatric and adult leukemia. Leukemic cell's auxotrophy for L-asparagine is exploited as a therapeutic strategy to mediate cell death through metabolic blockade of L-asparagine using L-asparaginase. Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi serve as the major enzyme deriving sources accepted in clinical practise and the enzyme has bestowed improvements in patient outcomes over the last 40 years. However, an array of side effects generated by the native enzymes due to glutamine co-catalysis and short serum stays augmenting frequent dosages, intended a therapeutic switch towards the development of biobetter alternatives for the enzyme including the formulations resulting in sustained local depletion of L-asparagine. In addition, the treatment with L-asparaginase in few cancer types has proven to elicit drug-induced cytoprotective autophagy mechanisms and therefore warrants concern. Although the off-target glutamine hydrolysis has been viewed in contributing the drug-induced secondary responses in cells deficient with asparagine synthetase machinery, the beneficial role of glutaminase-asparaginase in proliferative regulation of asparagine prototrophic cells has been looked forward. The current review provides an overview on the enzyme's clinical applications in leukemia and possible therapeutic implications in other solid tumours, recent advancements in drug formulations, and discusses the aspects of two-sided roles of glutaminase-asparaginases and drug-induced cytoprotective autophagy mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu R
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, JSS-AHER, Mysuru-570015, Karnataka, India
| | - H K Manonmani
- Food Protectants and Infestation Control Department, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru-570020, Karnataka, India
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