Many of the genes found to be differentially expressed in our tumour cells following L-asparaginase treatment are either directly related to protein synthesis (Eif3c, Gars, Eif3g, Eif5a) or are consistent with changes in gene expression reported in cell lines following amino acid deprivation including Atf5, Atf3, Jun, Fos, Egr1, and Asns (Fu et al., 2011; Pan et al., 2003; Pohjanpelto and Hölttä, 1990; Shan et al., 2010). This evidence concerns the gene EIF5A and neoplasm.