{"title":"[Prophylactic or pre-emptive therapy with azacitidine or FLT3 inhibitor after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for AML and MDS].","authors":"Yuho Najima","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.992","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.992","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an established curative treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Advances in supportive care, infection control, and graft-versus-host disease management have substantially reduced non-relapse mortality, leading to improved transplant outcomes. However, post-transplant relapse remains the leading cause of treatment failure, particularly in patients with adverse genetic abnormalities or active disease at transplantation. Post-transplant maintenance therapy has emerged as a strategy to prevent relapse by providing a \"third anti-leukemic effect\" that complements the cytotoxic effect of conditioning regimens and the graft-versus-leukemia immune response. Maintenance approaches can be broadly categorized into prophylactic therapy administered during molecular remission and preemptive therapy initiated upon detection of measurable residual disease (MRD). This review summarizes the current concepts of post-transplant maintenance therapy in AML/MDS, with a particular focus on hypomethylating agents such as azacitidine and FLT3 inhibitors. It also discusses emerging evidence supporting MRD-guided treatment strategies and molecularly targeted maintenance approaches, highlighting future perspectives for optimizing relapse prevention after allo-HSCT.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 8","pages":"992-997"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148860576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.355","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.355","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 4","pages":"355-358"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147936293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.269","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.269","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 4","pages":"269"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147936309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Development and implementation of a regional medical collaboration platform for hematological malignancies].","authors":"Teruhito Takakuwa, Yuma Tada, Yosuke Nakaya, Kensuke Ohta, Minami Ozone, Kaoru Yamamoto, Hirohisa Nakamae, Masayuki Hino, Takafumi Yokota","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.281","DOIUrl":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.281","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To address the challenges of regional collaboration in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, we conducted a prospective clinical study of a healthcare communication platform (Dr2GO<sup>®</sup>) designed to ensure seamless continuity of care by streamlining inter-hospital transfer coordination. By the end of 2024, nineteen patients were enrolled across the four participating institutions. The most frequently used clinical pathway was vaccination after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (7 cases). The median time from the referral request by the hub hospital to confirmation by the community institution was 15 hours. Among the cases requested during regular working hours, 83% were confirmed within 30 minutes. The median duration of pathway continuation was 9.5 months, with a continuation rate of 78.9%. In a survey, 75% of respondents reported faster medical coordination. During the study period, 26 chat entries were recorded, with a median of one entry per patient. These findings suggest that the Dr2GO<sup>®</sup>-based electronic clinical pathway both facilitates rapid transfer coordination and efficient information sharing, while potentially reducing physician workload and promoting task shifting.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 4","pages":"281-288"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147936396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Development of universal off-the-shelf T cell therapies derived from ES/iPS cells for leukemia and COVID-19].","authors":"Hiroshi Kawamoto, Takakazu Kawase, Seiji Nagano","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.974","DOIUrl":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer immunotherapy using patient-derived T cells genetically modified in vitro has been demonstrated to be effective. However, issues such as cost, time, and unstable quality must be resolved. To overcome these barriers, we developed the TCR-PS cell method, in which a specific TCR gene is introduced into pluripotent stem cells (PS cells), such as ES cells or iPS cells, and T cells are generated from those PS cells. We are currently preparing for a clinical trial in acute myeloid leukemia, targeting the WT1 antigen, with iPS cells provided by the CiRA Foundation as the starting material. In parallel, we are also investigating this approach for viral infections and preparing for clinical trials in COVID-19, with HLA-deficient ES cells as the starting material. This method should enable stockpiling of T cell therapies against known viruses such as SARS or avian influenza. Even for outbreaks caused by unknown viruses, it should be possible to produce T cell therapies within 100 days after the virus genome is defined.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 8","pages":"974-985"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148860707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.507","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.507","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 5","pages":"507"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148159297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.183","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.183","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 3","pages":"183-184"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147576875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Aggressive non-nodal mantle cell lymphoma with challenging subtype classification at presentation].","authors":"Akari Yoda, Ayato Sumioka, Ibuki Takatsuka, Yujiro Ito, Kazuyuki Shigeno, Masamitsu Takaba, Shinya Fujisawa, Kensuke Naito","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.525","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 57-year-old man presented with neutropenia, circulating blast-like cells, anemia, and fever. Bone marrow examination revealed that 62.8% of nucleated cells were small lymphoid blast-like cells, whose surface markers and immunophenotype were consistent with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Because no nodal involvement was detected at the initial visit, leukemic non-nodal MCL (nnMCL) was initially considered. However, <sup>18</sup>F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography demonstrated diffuse bone uptake and new nodal lesions that had not been apparent at presentation. The presence of SOX11 positivity, a high Ki-67 index, a complex karyotype, and the rapidly progressive clinical course were atypical for nnMCL and instead resembled conventional MCL. Although differentiation was challenging, a treatment protocol for aggressive conventional MCL was followed. The patient received bendamustine and rituximab, followed by CHASE-R (cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, dexamethasone, etoposide, and rituximab), and then high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. This case was considered borderline between conventional MCL and nnMCL. Although a definitive classification was not made, the treatment strategy was determined based on the pathological features, chromosomal abnormalities, and clinical behavior, following the approach typically used for aggressive conventional MCL.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 6","pages":"525-530"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148414311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Clinical significance of comprehensive genomic profiling in hematopoietic failure].","authors":"Satoru Aoyama","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.574","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.574","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review outlines the clinical significance of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in patients with hematopoietic failure, including severe unexplained cytopenia. Since March 2025, Japanese National Health Insurance has covered CGP for hematologic malignancies and related disorders, facilitating a genome-based precision medicine approach that complements conventional clinical approaches, including morphologic and cytogenetic analyses. In bone marrow failure phenotypes, CGP supports differentiation of aplastic anemia from myelodysplastic syndromes and related diseases by evaluating genetic alterations. In addition to diagnosis, CGP contributes to prognostic stratification and evaluation of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, which may present with minimal extra-hematologic features. However, accurate interpretation of CGP results requires not only understanding the genetic pathology of each disease, but also awareness of the characteristics of the CGP and the pitfalls specific to hematopoietic diseases (such as clonal hematopoiesis) and discussions with an expert panel. This review aims to facilitate the interpretation of CGP results to optimize clinical management for patients with hematopoietic failure.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 6","pages":"574-581"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148414323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Recent advances in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies for POEMS syndrome].","authors":"Shokichi Tsukamoto","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.453","DOIUrl":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.453","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>POEMS syndrome is a rare multisystemic disorder characterized by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell dyscrasia, and skin changes. Markedly elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels play a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Recent genomic studies have identified specific mutational patterns in the immunoglobulin lambda light chain gene (e.g., IGLV1-40 or IGLV1-44), providing new insights into the unique biology of POEMS syndrome. For clinical diagnosis, the Japanese diagnostic criteria are highly practical and accurate, designating polyneuropathy, monoclonal plasma cell proliferation, and elevated serum VEGF levels (>1,000 pg/ml) as mandatory major criteria. Treatment strategies are determined based on eligibility for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). For eligible patients, high-dose melphalan followed by ASCT is the standard of care, yielding significant neurological improvement and favorable long-term survival. In contrast, for transplant-ineligible patients or as induction therapy before ASCT, novel agents such as thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib have demonstrated clinical efficacy. Serum VEGF levels serve as an essential biomarker that sensitively reflects disease activity and treatment response, making them indispensable for monitoring during follow-up. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the pathogenesis, diagnostic refinements, and latest therapeutic strategies for POEMS syndrome based on recent scientific evidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 5","pages":"453-461"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148159419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}