eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal 0974-6242 2021-09-30 14 3 1721 1729 10.13005/bpj/2273 41070 article Giorgio Attinà 1 Raffaele Tepedino 2 Antonio Ruggiero 1 Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita’ Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy Medicine and Surgey Faculty. Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) can be a life-threatening complication that occurs following the onset of chemotherapy treatment, most commonly in association with high-grade lymphoproliferative pathologies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Burkitt lymphoma. The massive cell lysis caused by cytotoxic therapy leads to the rapid release in the blood of intracelullary products and the onset of severe metabolic and electrolytic complications (hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia and hyperuricemia) upto the acute renal failure. This article describes the incidence and pathophysiological basis of TLS, focusing on the new therapeutic strategies implemented over the last few years, especially with regard to the treatment of hyperuricemia. In particular, it highlights the characteristics of a recent drug, Rasburicase, as a safe and effective alternative, compared to traditional allopurinol therapy, for prophylaxis and treatment of children with hyperuricemia induced by chemotherapy. https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol14no3/acute-tumor-lysis-syndrome-a-metabolic-emergency-in-cancer-patients/ Allopurinol  Hyperuricemia  Rasburicase  Tumor Lysis Syndrome