Current status of hematopoietic cell transplantation for adult patients with hematologic diseases and solid tumors in Japan.

A nationwide survey of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) was started in Japan in 1991, and the analyzed survey data have been presented as the annual report of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. The 10-year overall survival (OS) rates after HCT for each disease are as follows: acute myelogenous leukemia, 44.2%; acute lymphocytic leukemia, 33.

[Role of polymorphic adhesion molecules in the development of graft-versus-leukemia effect after HLA-matched allogeneic stem cell transplantation].

Mismatches of minor histocompatibility antigens (mHas) between HLA-identical stem cell donors and recipients are known as a major risk factor for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We determined the alleles of 5 polymorphic molecules including HA-1 and 4 adhesion molecules in 102 patients who had undergone stem cell transplantation from HLA-identical donors and investigated the association of their mismatches with the relapse rate and incidence of GVHD. We observed relapse rates of 16.

Graft-versus-leukemia effect of allogeneic stem cell transplantation; a Japanese single center study.

To clarify graft-versus-leukemia effect of graft-versus-host disease, we studied 166 patients treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies. The cumulative incidence of relapse in patients with acute GVHD was significantly lower than that in patients without acute GVHD, but there was no similar GVL effect for chronic GVHD.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder simultaneously affecting both B and T cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is usually an aberrant proliferation of EBV-infected B cells. We report the case of a 31-year-old man with severe aplastic anemia who suffered PTLD 42 days post-BMT from an unrelated donor. At the onset of PTLD, peripheral blood lymphocytes were comprised of 40% CD20(+) cells, 3% CD4(+) cells, and 56% CD8(+) cells.

High-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for advanced testicular cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) for the treatment of patients with advanced testicular cancer.

Methods: Fourteen patients were treated with high-dose carboplatin, etoposide and cyclophosphamide (with or without THP-adriamycin) followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The treatment was used for two refractory cases, a second relapse, and for consolidation after the first relapse in one case each.