Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Asparaginase is an enzyme, made by bacteria, that breaks down the amino acid asparagine in the blood. Leukaemia cells in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cannot make enough asparagine themselves, so they starve. It is a key part of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, especially in children, in forms such as pegaspargase (Oncaspar) and Erwinia asparaginase (Rylaze).
As a protein, asparaginase is not broken down by drug-processing enzymes. Studies, mostly genome-wide studies in children with leukaemia, have looked for genes linked to its side effects: HLA-DRB1*07:01 and GRIA1 for allergic reactions, CPA2 for pancreatitis, PNPLA3 for liver fat, and others. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Asparaginase. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
PNPLA3 rs738409: Level 3. Toxicity: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 2.
GATA3 rs3824662: Level 3. Efficacy. 1.
HLA-DRB1 rs17885382: Level 3. Toxicity: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 1.
NFATC2 rs6021191: Level 3. Toxicity: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 1.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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