A lipid–immune network signature defines susceptibility to asparaginase-associated pancreatitis

Cheng-Yu Tsai; Na Bo; Thai Hoa Tran; Maisam Abu-El-Haija; Gayathri Swaminathan; Bomi Lee; Sudhir Ghandikota; Li Wen; Yves Théorêt; Steven D. Mittelman; Elena J. Ladas; Anil G. Jegga; Lewis B. Silverman; Ying Ding; Sohail Z. Husain

doi:10.1172/jci.insight.202662

A lipid–immune network signature defines susceptibility to asparaginase-associated pancreatitis

Cheng-Yu Tsai,¹ Na Bo,² Thai Hoa Tran,³ Maisam Abu-El-Haija,⁴ Gayathri Swaminathan,¹ Bomi Lee,¹ Sudhir Ghandikota,⁵ Li Wen,⁶ Yves Théorêt,⁷ Steven D. Mittelman,⁸ Elena J. Ladas,⁹ Anil G. Jegga,⁵ Lewis B. Silverman,⁹ Ying Ding,¹⁰ and Sohail Z. Husain¹

Published May 1, 2026 - More info

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Abstract

BACKGROUND. Asparaginase is essential for curing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but its use is limited by asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP), a severe and unpredictable toxicity lacking validated prospective biomarkers. We sought to define early systemic molecular features of susceptibility to AAP.

METHODS. We performed longitudinal lipidomic and proteomic profiling in two independent pediatric ALL cohorts (n = 161; 79 AAP cases, 82 controls) using paired blood samples collected before asparaginase exposure and at the end of induction therapy (including a single dose of asparaginase), thereby capturing pre-injury biology rather than consequences of pancreatitis. We applied differential abundance and network-based analyses, and integrated lipid–cytokine associations using proteomics.

RESULTS. Across cohorts, we identified a reproducible lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)–centered signature characterized by attenuated induction therapy-associated LPC responses and disruption of LPC co-regulation at the network level. Proteomic profiling revealed enrichment of cytokine signaling pathways, and integrative analyses demonstrated altered lipid–cytokine coupling, including a flip in association direction for LPC species and interleukin-18 (IL-18) between cases and controls. Although IL-18/LPC ratios do not differ globally, elevated post-induction IL-18/LPC ratios identify AAP risk within a protocol-defined very high-risk ALL subgroup (AUC = 0.81).

CONCLUSION. These findings support a systems-level model in which failure of coordinated lipid–immune responses under therapeutic stress confers vulnerability to AAP, providing a framework for validation and mitigation strategies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION. NCT00400946; NCT01574274; NCT03020030 (parent trials).

FUNDING. Servier Pharmaceuticals (IIT-95014-027-USA); SDRC (P30DK116074); Stanford SPARK; Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé; Fondation Charles-Bruneau; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

A lipid–immune network signature defines susceptibility to asparaginase-associated pancreatitis

Cheng-Yu Tsai,¹ Na Bo,² Thai Hoa Tran,³ Maisam Abu-El-Haija,⁴ Gayathri Swaminathan,¹ Bomi Lee,¹ Sudhir Ghandikota,⁵ Li Wen,⁶ Yves Théorêt,⁷ Steven D. Mittelman,⁸ Elena J. Ladas,⁹ Anil G. Jegga,⁵ Lewis B. Silverman,⁹ Ying Ding,¹⁰ and Sohail Z. Husain¹

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A lipid–immune network signature defines susceptibility to asparaginase-associated pancreatitis

Cheng-Yu Tsai,1 Na Bo,2 Thai Hoa Tran,3 Maisam Abu-El-Haija,4 Gayathri Swaminathan,1 Bomi Lee,1 Sudhir Ghandikota,5 Li Wen,6 Yves Théorêt,7 Steven D. Mittelman,8 Elena J. Ladas,9 Anil G. Jegga,5 Lewis B. Silverman,9 Ying Ding,10 and Sohail Z. Husain1

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Cheng-Yu Tsai,¹ Na Bo,² Thai Hoa Tran,³ Maisam Abu-El-Haija,⁴ Gayathri Swaminathan,¹ Bomi Lee,¹ Sudhir Ghandikota,⁵ Li Wen,⁶ Yves Théorêt,⁷ Steven D. Mittelman,⁸ Elena J. Ladas,⁹ Anil G. Jegga,⁵ Lewis B. Silverman,⁹ Ying Ding,¹⁰ and Sohail Z. Husain¹