asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi  A drug used with other
anticancer drugs to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It
is an enzyme that comes from the Erwinia chrysanthemi bacterium.
It is used in patients who cannot take a similar drug that comes
from the E. coli bacterium. It is also being studied in the
treatment of other types of cancer. It breaks down the amino
acid asparagine and may block the growth of cancer cells that
need asparagine to grow. It may also kill cancer cells. Also
called Erwinaze.  Quick Find