Reduction of human blood asparagine by hemodialysis

Abstract

The effect of hemodialysis with and without L‐asparaginase added to the dialysis bath was tested in patients with chronic renal disease and three patients with malignancy. The procedure reproducibly caused a rapid, though unsustained, reduction of serum asparagine. There was no leakage of L‐asparaginase across the dialysis membrane and no patient toxicity was observed. The three cancer patients had temporary antitumor effects. This study demonstrates that asparagine depletion can be obtained by hemodialysis without the toxicity observed with the intravenous administration of L‐asparaginase. Further study is necessary to determine whether or not this method is useful in the practical treatment of patients. Copyright © 1972 American Cancer Society