Term: Asparlas

Pronunciation: (AS-par-las)

Description:

A drug used with other drugs to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and young adults aged 1 month to 21 years. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Asparlas is made up of the enzyme L-asparaginase that is linked to a substance called SC-PEG, which makes the drug stay in the body longer. L-asparaginase comes from the bacterium E. coli and breaks down the amino acid asparagine. This may stop the growth of cancer cells that need asparagine to grow. Asparlas is a type of protein synthesis inhibitor. Also called calaspargase pegol, EZN-2285, and SC-PEG E. coli L-asparaginase.