The asparaginase effect on cancer cells relies on depletion of asparagine, which the malignant cells cannot produce themselves, in contrast to normal cells [62], whereas the side-effect of asparaginase, inducing pancreatitis, is owing to activation of a signal transduction mechanism involving PAR2, the intracellular messengers IP3 and NAADP, and the intracellular receptors IP3Rs, RYRs and possibly TPCs (figure 6). The gene discussed is ASPG; the disease is cancer.