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Pronunciation | /pəˈɡæspərɡeɪz/ |
Trade names | Oncaspar |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a695031 |
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Routes of administration | Intramuscular, intravenous |
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Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C1377H2208N382O442S17 |
Molar mass | 31732.06 g·mol−1 |
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Pegaspargase, sold under the brand name Oncaspar, is a medication used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). [5] Often it is used together with anthracycline, vincristine, and corticosteroids (for example prednisone and dexamethasone). [6] Pegaspargase can be administered either via an intravenous infusion or a intramuscular injection. [6]
Known side effects include allergic reactions, coagulopathy, high blood sugar, affecting liver function, pancreas inflammation, and blood clots in the brain. [6] There is no data regarding the usage of pegaspargase during pregnancy. [7] Therefore, caution should be observed and pegaspargase should only be used during pregnancy when the benefits outweigh the possible risks.
Pegaspargase is a modified version of the enzyme asparaginase which has undergone PEGylation. [8] [6] It works by breaking down the amino acid asparagine that are circulating in the bloodstream. [6] The circulating asparagine is essential for the cancer cells to enable growth since they can't produce their own, in contrast to normal cells. [9] The normal cells are therefore less affected by pegaspargase.
Pegaspargase was approved for medical use in the United States in 1994. [6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. [10] It is made by Sigma-Tau. [6]