Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Japan, a report from Nationwide Survey 2014

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers potentially curative treatment for a wide range of otherwise fatal hematologic disorders. The number of HSCTs has continued to increase over the past 20 years, and more than 5,000 allogeneic and autologous HSCTs have been performed annually in recent years. A constant increase of allogeneic HSCTs for older patients (aged over 50), and an increase in the variety of donor/stem cell sources, such as cord blood from unrelated donors have led to this constant increase of HSCTs in Japan. The transplant survival outcomes also continue to improve, and the assets for improvement include better supportive care, innovative transplant approaches, and establishment of a transplant outcome registry.