Which of the following anticancer drugs can cause a hypercoagulable state: (A) 5–FU, (B) L–asparginase, (C) Melphalan, (D) Carmustine
Answer is B. L-asparginase causes the breakdown of aspargine and thus interferes with protein synthesis. It can inhibit the pro­duction of clotting factors (responsible for cerebral hemorrhage) as well as anti-clotting proteins (can lead to cortical vein thrombosis and other hypercoagulable states).