Pegylated asparaginase in combination with high-dose methotrexate for consolidation in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in first remission: a pilot study

The German Multicentre acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) study group (GMALL) performed a pilot study using pegylated asparaginase (PEG-ASP) in combination with high-dose methotrexate as consolidation therapy in the 05/93 protocol. The aim of the study was an intra-individual comparison of two different doses of PEG-ASP in 26 patients, with regard to the depletion of asparagine in serum and toxicity. 'Pharmacokinetic' monitoring was performed to evaluate the effect of an intra-individual dose escalation of PEG-ASP from 500 to 1000 U/m2 intravenously in successive doses. Serum asparaginase activity was targeted at > or =100 U/l for 1 week and > or =50 U/l for 10 d. The second course of PEG-ASP was administered to 23 patients. Due to hypersensitivity reactions in five patients, only 18 patients were evaluable for pharmacokinetic monitoring. With respect to the PEG-ASP activity, an effective depletion of asparagine could be postulated in the majority of patients during 10 d after the first administration. The effect of an intraindividual dose escalation form 500 to 1000 U/m2 was evaluable in 17 of 22 patients. An increment in peak PEG-ASP activity >70% was observed in 65% of the patients. PEG-ASP was well tolerated. Despite the long half-life of PEG-ASP, neither pancreatic nor central nervous toxicities occurred among the 26 adult patients treated in this pilot study.