Expanding targets for a metabolic therapy of cancer: L-asparaginase.

Abstract

The antitumour enzyme L-asparaginase (L-asparagine amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.1, ASNase), which catalyses the deamidation of L-asparagine (Asn) to L-aspartic acid and ammonia, has been used for many years in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Also NK tumours, subtypes of myeloid leukaemias and T-cell lymphomas respond to ASNase, and ovarian carcinomas and other solid tumours have been proposed as additional targets for ASNase, with a potential role for its glutaminase activity. The increasing attention devoted to the antitumour activity of ASNase prompted us to analyse recent patents specifically concerning this enzyme. Here, we first give an overview of metabolic pathways affected by Asn and Gln depletion and, hence, potential targets of ASNase. We then discuss recent published patents concerning ASNases. In particular, we pay attention to novel ASNases, such as the recently characterised ASNase produced by Helicobacter pylori, and those presenting amino acid substitutions aimed at improving enzymatic activity of the classical Escherichia coli enzyme. We detail modifications, such as natural glycosylation or synthetic conjugation with other molecules, for therapeutic purposes. Finally, we analyse patents concerning biotechnological protocols and strategies applied to production of ASNase as well as to its administration and delivery in organisms.

• Authors: Daniele Covini, Saverio Tardito, Ovidio Bussolati, Laurent R Chiarelli, Maria V Pasquetto, Rita Digilio, Giovanna Valentini, Claudia Scotti
• Journal: Recent patents on anti-cancer drug discovery (Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov) Vol. 7 Issue 1 Pg. 4-13 (Jan 2012) ISSN: 2212-3970 [Electronic] United Arab Emirates
• PMID: 21854356 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Glutamine
• Asparagine
• Asparaginase
• Glutaminase

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, metabolism)
• Asparaginase (administration & dosage, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Asparagine (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Drug Delivery Systems (trends)
• Glutaminase (metabolism)
• Glutamine (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Humans
• Metabolic Networks and Pathways (drug effects, physiology)
• Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology)
• Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (drug therapy, enzymology)