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ONCH - 1928 - Recent Developments in L-Asparaginase Discovery and Its Potential As Anticancer Agent
ONCH - 1928 - Recent Developments in L-Asparaginase Discovery and Its Potential As Anticancer Agent
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Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mechanism of l-asparaginase activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Current asparaginase formulations: a comparative evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.1. Current asparaginase formulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.1.1. Native E. coli asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.1.2. Erwinia asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.1.3. PEG-asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Problems associated with clinical application of bacterial asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.1. Hypersensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.2. Coagulation disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.3. Pancreatitis, hyperglycaemia, hepatotoxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.4. Resistance to l-asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Advancement in l-asparaginase discovery from alternative sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.1. Algal asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.2. Plants asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.3. Fungal asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.4. Actinomycetes asparaginase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.5. Entrapment of l-asparaginase in erythrocytes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conclusion and future direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conflict of interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reviewers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Biographies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Abstract
l-Asparaginase (EC3.5.1.1) is an enzyme, which is used for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and other related blood
cancers from a long time. This enzyme selectively hydrolyzes the extracellular amino acid l-asparagine into l-aspartate and ammonia, leading to
Corresponding author at: Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, PO Box 2457, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Tel.: +966 542854355.
E-mail address: abdularifkhan@gmail.com (A.A. Khan).
1 These authors have equal contribution.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
1040-8428/ 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Shrivastava et al. / Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology xxx (2015) xxxxxx
nutritional deficiencies, protein synthesis inhibition, and ultimately death of lymphoblastic cells by apoptosis. Currently, bacterial asparaginases
are used for treatment purpose but offers scepticism due to a number of toxicities, including thrombosis, pancreatitis, hyperglycemia, and
hepatotoxicity. Resistance towards bacterial asparaginase is another major disadvantage during cancer management. This situation attracted
attention of researchers towards alternative sources of l-asparaginase, including plants and fungi. Present article discusses about potential of
l-asparaginase as an anticancer agent, its mechanism of action, and adverse effects related to current asparaginase formulations. This article
also provides an outlook for recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery from alternative sources and their potential as a less toxic
alternative to current formulations.
2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: l-Asparaginase; Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; Anticancer; l-Asparagine; Erwinase; Kidrolase; PEG-asparaginase
1. Introduction
l-Asparaginase is an important chemotherapeutic agent
for management of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
and other hematopoietic malignancies. In the early fifties,
Kidd identified that guinea pig serum has the ability to control the progression of murine lymphoma. The mice were
transplanted with lymphoma cells during this experiment
and repeated intraperitoneal injections of normal guinea pig
serum were given to them. This treatment led to a regression of lymphoma and survival of treated mice while control
mice grew lymphoma progressively and died within 2030
days [1]. Much earlier the discovery of guinea pig serum
anti-lymphoma activity, it was observed by Clementi (1922),
that guinea pig serum is also a rich source of l-asparaginase
[2]. In the early sixties, guinea pig serum susceptible lymphoma cells were grown in cell culture media devoid of the
amino acid l-asparagine, this inadequacy declined cell population rapidly, but some cells survived and began to proliferate
under l-aspargine limitation. These cells were found to have
lost guinea pig serum susceptibility after transplantation in
mice, while original lymphoma cells retained this susceptibility even after transplantation in mice. The lost susceptibility
to guinea pig serum was restricted to l-asparagine limitation,
while other amino acids, purines and pyrimidines were unable
to complement this effect. Therefore, it was concluded that lasparaginase present in guinea pig serum is responsible for its
antilymphoma activity [3]. These observations also attracted
other researchers for the detection of anticancer potential of
this enzyme, and it was found that the only guinea pig serum
has anti-lymphoma activity, while sera from other animals,
like horse serum and rabbit serum were not able to show comparable activity [1]. Furthermore, the same sera was tested
against many cancer types and observed that it is effective
against only some cancer but not all. Guinea pig serum was
able to inhibit certain lymphoma cell lines in vivo, but the
same activity was not possible with in vitro assays, provided
that guinea pig serum is also a rich source of complement
and proposed anticancer activity against cell lines may be
due to complement mediated cytotoxicity. l-Asparaginase is
an inhibitor of complement in whole guinea pig serum during in vitro assay [4]. Broome performed research to find out
the relative contribution of complement and l-asparaginase
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Shrivastava et al. / Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology xxx (2015) xxxxxx
l-asparagine
l-asparaginase
l-glutamine
l-asparaginase
De novo biosynthesis:
l-aspartic acid + NH3 (From glutamine)
Asparagine Synthetase
l-asparagine
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Shrivastava et al. / Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology xxx (2015) xxxxxx
Fig. 2. Structural illustration of the of l-asparaginase reaction mechanism. During l-asparaginase reaction, covalent intermediate (-Acyl-Enzyme) is formed
through nucleophilic attack by the enzyme. Green arrows indicate a nucleophilic attack. This intermediate later convert into l-aspartate and gives final reaction
products as l-aspratate and ammonia.
asparagine and glutamine level is linked with mTOR pathway and its subsequent inhibition. This pathway includes
an intracellular molecule mammalian target of rapamycin
(known as mTOR). Inhibition of mTOR leads to inhibition
of downstream events in its pathway including phosphorylation of the protein serine threonine kinase (p70S6 kinase
or p70s6k) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) which suppresses synthesis of ribosomal
proteins at mRNA translation level [22]. It has been found
that inhibition of mTOR pathway by l-asparaginase greatly
affect leukaemia cells and contributes to its antileukaemic
activity. In a separate study on acute myeloid leukaemia, it
has been found that l-asparaginase induces an autophagic
process through inhibition of mTORC1 (mTOR has two
structurally distinct complexes mTORC1 and mTORC2).
mTORC1 is an important regulator of cell growth which activates protein translation and inhibit autophagy under amino
acid abundance by regulating the autophagy related proteins Agt1/ULK and ATG13 [23]. Therefore l-asparaginase
induced reduction of amino acid level is associated with cellular signalling which in turn leads to death of leukeamic
cells.
3. Current asparaginase formulations:
a comparative evaluation
ALL and other lymphoid malignancies have been effectively treated with asparaginase for many years. The
anti-leukemic activity of asparaginases depends upon the
following factors. (i) The rate of hydrolysis, and the Km
of the asparaginase. (ii) The pharmacological factors of
serum clearance of the enzyme [24]. (iii) The development
of asparaginase resistance in tumour cells [18]. (iv) Development of anti-asparaginase antibodies by the host immune
system [25]. (v) The increased contribution of asparagine
either from de novo biosynthesis of asparagine within the
liver or the input from the nutrient intake [26]. The best possible formulation and dosage of asparaginases is still disputed,
despite its use as a vital drug in all treatment protocols for
ALL.
Dosage
Native E. coli
asparaginase
PEG-asparaginase
2630 h
Erwinia asparaginase
16 h
5.57 days
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
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First Line
Second Line
E. coli-asparaginase
or PEG-asparaginase
Erwinia asparaginase
or PEG-asparaginase
E. coli-asparaginase
or PEG-asparaginase
E. coli-asparaginase
Erwinia asparaginase
Other countries
Erwinia asparaginase
or PEG-asparaginase
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Shrivastava et al. / Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology xxx (2015) xxxxxx
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Shrivastava et al. / Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology xxx (2015) xxxxxx
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
ARTICLE IN PRESS
defects in protein synthesis. Asparaginase treatment associated liver toxicity includes oxidative stress, glutamine
deficiency, decreased hepatic protein synthesis, and later
on impairment of beta-oxidation in mitochondria [7173].
Patients with liver abnormalities through asparaginase treatment rarely show its histological presentation but macro- and
microvesicular liver steatosis have been described [71,74].
Furthermore, l-asparaginase treatment can also increase
pancreatic amylase and lipase. Synthesis inhibition of these
enzymes is regulated by l-asparagine. In the absence of lasparagine, these enzymes create severe complications in
pancreas [65,75]. l-Asparaginase therapy can also induce
diabetes in some patients due to decreased insulin synthesis
through affecting both the endocrine (insulin-secreting) and
exocrine (digestive enzyme-secreting) cells of the pancreas.
In addition to above complications, CNS related
symptoms are another adverse events associated with lasparaginase therapy. It has been proposed that a reduction
in level of l-asparagine and l-glutamine in cerebral tissues is responsible for these adverse reactions. Symptoms
of l-asparaginase associated CNS related adverse events
include hallucination, drowsiness, and amentia [76]. It has
also reported that l-asparaginase therapy is associated with
posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) [77].
4.4. Resistance to l-asparaginase
The mechanisms behind the failure and resistance to lasparaginase treatment is still doubtful [78,79]. Activity of
l-asparaginase is dependent on the development of antil-asparaginase antibodies, leading to failure of asparagine
depletion after re-administration of l-asparaginase, and
causes l-asparaginase resistance [25,51]. These antil-asparaginase antibodies neutralize the l-asparaginase
activity, resulting in more rapid plasma clearance and shorter
duration of drug effect. Antibody development may occur in
patients having clinical allergy symptoms [24,25,32].
Resistance to l-asparaginase therapy may also be assumed
because of the high level of l-asparaginase synthetase cellular expression, that allows the production of asparagine and
hence protein synthesis. Expression of cellular l-asparagine
synthetase is found low in B-lineage ALL with TEL/AML1
and the hyper-diploid subtype and may be an indication of
their increased sensitivity to l-asparaginase [78,80]. Conversely, in some new studies of TEL/AML1 ALL cells,
over expression of asparagine synthetase mRNA was originated and did not correlate with resistance to l-asparagine
in TEL/AML1 [81]. In other words, it can be summarized
that cellular asparaginase synthetase over expression was
shown to be higher in T-lineage ALL and lower in B-lineage
ALL with translocation-erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene
homolog leukaemia-acute myeloid leukaemia 1 TEL-AML1
fusion gene [78].
Resistance to l-asparaginase also arise from the increased
expression of asparagine synthetase stimulated by the tumour
cells after exposure to l-asparaginase and from the expression
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Shrivastava et al. / Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology xxx (2015) xxxxxx
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
10
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A. Shrivastava et al. / Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology xxx (2015) xxxxxx
Conict of interest
Authors do not have any personal or financial conflict of
interest related to this work.
Reviewers
Xu Zhen, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Center for
Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, 1825 Pressler Street,
Houston, TX 77030, United States.
Dr Zakir Khan, Department of Biotechnology, Madhav
Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior, India.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to Deanship of Scientific Research
and Research Center, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002
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Biographies
Dr. Abhinav Shrivastava is working as Assistant Professor in College of Life Sciences, Cancer Hospital and
Research Institute, Gwalior, India. His primary research
interest includes the development of L-asparaginase from
alternative sources in order to develop less toxic enzyme formulation. He is involved in the isolation of L-asparaginase
from plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Dr. Abdul Arif Khan is an Assistant Professor in College
of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
His current research focus is on cancer associated bacterial
infections and their role in cancer aetiology and diagnosis,
development of anticancer substances from microbial origin,
and cancer system biology.
Mr. Mohsin Khurshid is a Lecturer at Directorate of
Medical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Previously he has served as Lecturer in
College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia. His research interest includes the bacterial Pathogenesis, antibiotic resistance mechanisms among bacteria
and the potential role of bacteria in cancer diagnosis and
management.
Dr. Mohd Abul Kalam has completed his PhD (Pharmaceutics) in June 2011 from Department of Pharmaceutics,
Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.
Since November 2011, he is working as Assistant Professor at Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy,
King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His research
interest includes the development of nanoformulations as a
novel drug delivery system.
Dr. Sudhir K Jain is working as Associate Professor
in Department of Microbiology. Vikram University, Ujjain,
India. His research activities are focused on identification
of novel drug targets for new drug development, secondary
metabolite production from Keratinophilic and soil fungi.
Dr. Pradeep K Singhal is a Professor in Department of Biological Science, Rani Durgavati University,
Jabalpur, India. His research interest includes environmental
biotechnology and development of anticancer formulations
including L-asparaginase.
Please cite this article in press as: Shrivastava A, et al. Recent developments in l-asparaginase discovery and its potential as anticancer
agent. Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.002