{"title":"[Biomarkers for enhancing efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy].","authors":"Seitaro Terakura","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.342","DOIUrl":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.342","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies, achieving remarkable response rates in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphomas. However, treatment responses and toxicities vary substantially among patients, necessitating the establishment of robust predictive biomarkers for optimal patient stratification and treatment personalization. This review systematically categorizes key factors affecting CAR-T therapy efficacy into tumor-intrinsic and T cell-intrinsic components. Tumor-intrinsic factors include tumor burden, antigen expression heterogeneity, and immunosuppressive components within the tumor microenvironment, such as regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and inhibitory cytokines (e.g., TGF-β and IL-10). T cell-intrinsic factors encompass memory T cell subset composition, particularly central memory and stem cell memory populations, CAR expression density and transduction efficiency, polyfunctional cytokine production profiles, mitochondrial function and metabolic fitness, and expression of immune checkpoint molecules. Recent technological advances in single-cell RNA sequencing, comprehensive proteomics, and high-dimensional immunophenotyping combined with machine learning algorithms enable increasingly precise biomarker identification and predictive modeling. Integration of these multidimensional biomarkers into unified prediction models holds substantial promise for personalizing therapy, enhancing efficacy while minimizing adverse events, and ultimately achieving durable remission in patients receiving CAR-T therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 4","pages":"342-348"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147936370","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":"[PTHrP-producing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting with hypercalcemia at diagnosis].","authors":"Chihiro Shirai, Makiko Mizuguchi, Tomoko Maruhashi, Kumiko Kagawa, Hironobu Shibata, Nobuo Satake, Shuji Ozaki","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.321","DOIUrl":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.321","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 55-year-old man was referred to our hospital with weight loss, somnolence, and dysarthria. Laboratory tests revealed elevation of serum creatinine (2.17 mg/dl), serum corrected calcium (16.3 mg/dl), and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP, 3.7 pmol/l). <sup>18</sup>F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (<sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT) demonstrated splenomegaly and increased FDG uptake in the spleen and in bone marrow throughout the body. Bone marrow biopsy showed infiltration of large atypical lymphoid cells. The neoplastic cells were positive for CD20, BCL-6, MUM1, PTHrP, and PTH1 receptor on immunohistochemical staining, prompting a diagnosis of PTHrP-producing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). After one cycle of R-CHOP chemotherapy, the PTHrP level became undetectable; after four cycles, a complete metabolic response was confirmed on PET/CT. The patient subsequently underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and achieved long-term complete remission. PTHrP-producing DLBCL is extremely rare, and further investigation is needed to better understand its disease characteristics and pathophysiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 4","pages":"321-327"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147936393","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":"[Alemtuzumab-based HLA-haploidentical transplantation for relapsed/refractory aggressive NK-cell leukemia].","authors":"Yukiko Komori, Eri Kawata, Junko Yamaguchi, Norichika Kawasumi, Aya Egashira, Kentaro Mizuhara, Nana Sasaki, Yu-Ya Tanabe, Yutaka Kobayashi, Ken-Ichi Imadome, Akira Watanabe, Nobuhiko Uoshima","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.303","DOIUrl":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 30-year-old man presented with fever of unknown origin, pancytopenia, and hepatosplenomegaly. Peripheral blood analysis revealed elevated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels, with EBV detected in the NK cell fraction, leading to a diagnosis of chronic active EBV disease (CAEBV). Despite immunosuppressive and etoposide therapy, fever and organ dysfunction worsened. He subsequently underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from an HLA-haploidentical donor with post-transplant cyclophosphamide. On day86 post-transplant, the patient developed fever, recurrent pancytopenia, elevated peripheral blood EBV-DNA levels, and abnormal lymphocytes in both peripheral blood and bone marrow, leading to a revised diagnosis of relapsed/refractory aggressive NK-cell leukemia (ANKL). The patient underwent a second haploidentical PBSCT with alemtuzumab and achieved remission for 264 days before dying of Fusarium-related infective endocarditis. Alemtuzumab, an anti-CD52 antibody, is approved for GVHD prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and may also offer antitumor effects against ANKL.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 4","pages":"303-309"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147936281","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 outcomes of idecabtagene vicleucel therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a single-center retrospective analysis].","authors":"Kairi Kojo, Yuho Najima, Kyoko Haraguchi, Shuhei Kurosawa, Sayuri Ishibashi, Daichi Sadato, Chizuko Hirama, Riki Yamakawa, Kana Kato, Yasutaka Masuda, Kaori Kondo, Yasutaka Sadaga, Satoshi Sakai, Chika Kato, Hiroki Hatsusawa, Yukie Terasaki, Masashi Shimabukuro, Fumihiko Ouchi, Kazuki Inai, Atsushi Jinguji, Naoki Shingai, Takashi Toya, Hiroaki Shimizu, Takeshi Kobayashi, Yuka Harada, Yoshiki Okuyama, Noriko Doki","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.289","DOIUrl":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) is effective for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), but real-world data in Japan are limited. We retrospectively analyzed 11 patients with RRMM who received ide-cel at our institution. The median age at infusion was 67 years (range, 54-71), and the median number of prior lines of therapy was 4 (range, 3-6). At best response, the overall response rate was 90.0%, with a complete response rate of 60.0%. With a median follow-up of 530 days (range, 198-1,032) among survivors, the 1-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 90.9% and 71.6%, respectively. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred in all patients, including one fatal grade 5 event. Analysis of peripheral blood chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) kinetics showed a trend toward better progression-free survival in patients with greater expansion from day0 to day28. Although the efficacy of ide-cel for RRMM in our cohort was comparable to that in previous reports, the management of severe CRS remains a challenge. Further investigation in a larger cohort is required to establish predictive factors for safety and efficacy in Japanese clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 4","pages":"289-298"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147936463","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 germline pathogenic variants associated with hematologic malignancies].","authors":"Motohiro Kato","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.834","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.834","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The onset of hematologic malignancies is influenced not only by acquired somatic mutations but also by pathogenic germline variants to a broader extent than previously assumed. Although germline predisposition was traditionally thought to be limited to inherited bone marrow failure syndromes such as Fanconi anemia or to characteristic familial cases, pathogenic variants in RUNX1, ETV6, GATA2, and DDX41 are now known to be associated with diverse hematologic malignancies, including leukemia/MDS, across a wide age range from childhood to adulthood. With the widespread use of cancer genomic profiling tests, germline findings are encountered more frequently, which has contributed to improved diagnostic accuracy, individualized treatment selection and transplant conditioning, donor selection, and evaluation of secondary cancer risk. However, careful selection and interpretation of \"normal\" specimens is required given the risk of tumor cell contamination in peripheral blood. This article summarizes the overall landscape and key clinical points, and outlines prospects for multidisciplinary collaboration and evidence-building.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 7","pages":"834-837"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148665039","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":"[Disappearance of del (7q) with lenalidomide in myelofibrosis complicated with multiple myeloma].","authors":"Manato Sugisaki, Oh Kwan Ee, Kenji Imamura, Keita Nakayama, Takatomo Yoshida, Kohtaro Toyama","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.697","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.697","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lenalidomide, an immune-modulatory drug, is used to treat multiple myeloma (MM). Lenalidomide has also been investigated as a treatment for myelofibrosis (MF); however, its efficacy in this setting has not been established. We report a case of secondary MF progressing from polycythemia vera (PV) that had the poor prognostic factor del (7q) and concurrent MM, in which del (7q) disappeared and MF improved after treatment with lenalidomide. A 69-year-old woman presented to our hospital with PV in March 2022. Bone marrow examination revealed grade 2 fibrosis. The diagnosis was secondary MF progressing from PV, with JAK2 V617F and del (7q), along with IgG-κ monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). In May 2023, the appearance of new bone lesions indicated progression of MGUS to MM. Treatment with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone achieved a partial response. After this treatment, del (7q) disappeared and MF improved. The efficacy of lenalidomide in MF with del (7q) has never been reported. This case shows that lenalidomide may improve the prognosis of MF with del (7q).</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 7","pages":"697-702"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148665042","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":"[Long-term remission with venetoclax plus azacitidine in acute myeloid leukemia with negative conversion of FLT3 companion diagnostic testing at relapse].","authors":"Satsuki Yoshihara, Takashi Toya, Tomoyuki Handa, Seishi Ogawa, Kinuko Mitani, Yoichi Imai","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.691","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An 80-year-old man was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and molecular analysis identified FLT3-ITD, TKD mutations. Induction chemotherapy with daunorubicin plus cytarabine achieved hematological complete remission; however, extramedullary infiltration was detected in the skin and central nervous system. Due to this extramedullary disease, treatment with mitoxantrone plus high-dose cytarabine was administered, leading to systemic complete remission. Two cycles of the same regimen were then added. The patient relapsed 5 months later, at which time FLT3 mutations were no longer detectable by a companion diagnostic test. However, targeted sequencing analysis identified a novel FLT3-ITD positive minor clone. Treatment with venetoclax plus azacitidine was then started. The patient achieved complete remission and has remained relapse-free for more than 2 years. In this case, the FLT3 mutation companion diagnostic test result became spontaneously negative without FLT3-directed treatment, and the response to venetoclax plus azacitidine was favorable. This case highlights the importance of molecular testing not only at diagnosis but also at relapse for appropriate treatment selection.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 7","pages":"691-696"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148665139","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 and future perspectives in the treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma].","authors":"Nobuhiko Yamauchi","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.757","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.757","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a highly curable malignancy, with long-term remission achieved in approximately 85% of patients with limited-stage disease and in about 70% of those with advanced-stage disease following first-line therapy. In limited-stage cHL, treatment is generally guided by appropriate risk stratification, and the combination of ABVD followed by radiotherapy has long constituted the therapeutic backbone. For advanced-stage disease, six cycles of brentuximab vedotin plus AVD (BV-AVD) are currently regarded as the standard first-line treatment, whereas six cycles of ABVD remains a reasonable option for older patients in whom treatment tolerability is a particular concern. In recent years, the results of large-scale clinical trials evaluating first-line regimens incorporating brentuximab vedotin (BV) or immune checkpoint inhibitors (IO), together with interim PET-adapted treatment strategies, have shown promise for further improving treatment outcomes while minimizing the use of radiotherapy. For relapsed or refractory disease, immunotherapeutic approaches, including CD30-directed CAR T-cell therapy, are under active development. In parallel, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is emerging as a promising biomarker for minimal residual disease assessment, and ctDNA-based molecular classification has also been proposed. This review outlines the current status and unresolved challenges of first-line treatment for cHL and discusses future perspectives in this evolving field.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 7","pages":"757-770"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148665253","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 the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia].","authors":"Seiichiro Katagiri","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.711","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11406/rinketsu.67.711","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has substantially improved outcomes for chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP). Furthermore, the development of ABL myristoyl pocket inhibitors that target specific molecular pathways has enabled adoption of treatment strategies with fewer adverse events. However, the clinical significance of somatic mutations in genes other than ABL1 in treatment resistance is attracting increasing attention. Additionally, novel TKIs and STAMP inhibitors are under development, and are expected to further improve CML management. This article summarizes the frequency and clinical impact of somatic mutations in CML-CP and reviews promising novel TKIs and STAMP inhibitors.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 7","pages":"711-715"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148665323","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}
Yoshiko Atsuta, Marie Ohbiki, Emiko Sakaida, Yuki Asano-Mori, Motoko Yamaguchi, Junko Takita, Stephanie J Lee
{"title":"[Mentorship to support career development among women physicians].","authors":"Yoshiko Atsuta, Marie Ohbiki, Emiko Sakaida, Yuki Asano-Mori, Motoko Yamaguchi, Junko Takita, Stephanie J Lee","doi":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.349","DOIUrl":"10.11406/rinketsu.67.349","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mentorship is a critical mechanism for the growth and career development of young physicians and plays an especially decisive role in addressing the \"leaky pipeline\" faced by women in medicine. In this article, we first clarify the distinctions between four forms of support-mentor, sponsor, ally, and coach-and review initiatives at the levels of professional societies, institutions, and individuals. We then present concrete examples from Japan: the Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, which combines a registry scientist training program with flexible work arrangements; Chiba University, where a formal mentoring system for medical students and a team-based clinical structure provide embedded, structural mentorship; and a small survey of women physicians in general hospitals, which reveals limited formal mentoring systems and diverse needs regarding mentor characteristics. Drawing on these experiences, we describe key attributes of effective mentors, including accessibility, reliability, and respect for mentees' values and goals, and we highlight three central mentoring roles: supporting academic success, promoting sustainable work-life balance, and fostering leadership development. To create an environment in which women physicians can fully realize their potential, high-quality mentorship must be strengthened across academic societies, healthcare institutions, and individual practitioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":93844,"journal":{"name":"[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology","volume":"67 4","pages":"349-354"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147936416","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}