Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a blood cancer that leads to an overproduction of immature white blood cells, impacting normal blood cell production and immune response. Recent research suggests that a diet high in vitamin A or its analogs may reduce the risk of pancreatitis, a potentially severe side effect of chemotherapy, particularly in children and young adults treated with the enzyme asparaginase. This enzyme helps starve cancer cells by lowering asparagine levels but can cause pancreatic inflammation in 2% to 10% of users.
A study published in Science Translational Medicine led by researchers from Stanford University and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital used extensive data analytics to explore this issue. They found that the risk of asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) was significantly lower in patients who consumed vitamin A, with a 60% reduction noted. Importantly, only 1.4% of those taking vitamin A developed pancreatitis compared to 3.4% of those without it. The researchers emphasize the potential of real-world data to inform treatment strategies and call for further clinical studies to determine the optimal vitamin A intake levels for ALL patients to mitigate pancreatitis risk.
