A 16-year-old male treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia develops severe lumbar and abdominal pain. His serum amylase is markedly elevated. Which of the following agents most likely caused these findings?
- 6-MP
- Asparaginase
- Doxorubicin
- Methotrexate
- Vincristine
Asparaginase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of serum asparagine to aspartic acid and ammonia. Major toxicities are related to antigenicity and pancreatitis. In addition, more than 50% of those treated present biochemical evidence of hepatic dysfunction.