Greetings
Hematopoietic cell transplants are performed as a potentially curative treatment for intractable diseases such as high-risk leukemia and severe aplastic anemia, as well as primary immunodeficiencies and inborn errors of metabolism. Because hematopoietic cell transplants require advanced expertise across multiple fields, including hematology, immunology, infectious diseases, and transfusion medicine, the Department of Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine is an independent specialty department that provides the infrastructure for the highly specialized tests required for transplants, while also working in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics to provide clinical care and research. We have a world-leading number of transplants for bone marrow failure syndromes such as aplastic anemia and inborn errors of metabolism, and as patients are referred from all over the country, we also provide accommodations for accompanying family members.
Head of the Department of Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine
Yabe Hiromasa
Treatment details
The Department of Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine provides outpatient care for pediatric patients with high-risk hematologic disorders, such as leukemia and aplastic anemia, as well as certain congenital diseases that require hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This care encompasses determining transplant eligibility, selecting and coordinating optimal hematopoietic stem cells, developing treatment plans, managing transplants, and providing long-term follow-up care. Hematopoietic stem cell transplants are highly specialized medical procedures requiring expertise across multiple fields, including hematology, oncology, infectious diseases, transfusion medicine, and transplant immunology. Therefore, it operates as a specialized department distinct from general pediatrics care, collaborating closely with the Department of Pediatrics to deliver comprehensive care.
Main target diseases
High-risk leukemia that cure is unlikely with conventional chemotherapy, inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (Fanconi anemia, dyskeratosis congenita, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, others), primary immunodeficiencies with poor prognosis (severe combined immunodeficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, chronic granulomatous disease, others), specific inborn errors of metabolism (mucopolysaccharidosis type I, II, IVA, adrenoleukodystrophy, Krabbe disease, others), etc.
Main medical achievements
In 2024, we performed two unrelated bone marrow transplants and three unrelated umbilical cord blood transplants. The diseases were two cases of adrenoleukodystrophy, and one each of myelodysplastic syndrome, mucopolysaccharidosis type I, and metachromatic leukodystrophy. All patients achieved engraftment and remain alive. Since the first successful allogeneic bone marrow transplant in March 1982, we have performed 644 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants in 568 patients and 48 autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplants as of December 2024. During this time, we successfully performed the world's first allogeneic CD34-positive cell transplant from an HLA-mismatched donor in September 1993, and Japan's first successful umbilical cord blood transplant in October 1994. We play a central role in the treatment of aplastic anemia in Japan, having performed 105 transplants for inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (including 89 transplants for Fanconi anemia, the representative disease) and 86 transplants for acquired aplastic anemia, achieving the highest numbers of cases in Japan and world-class outcomes for both. We have also performed 104 transplants for inborn errors of metabolism, the highest number in Japan.
Doctor List
外来：0463-93-1121 内線6381
Hiromasa Yabe (Part-time doctor)
| Specialization | Pediatrics, Hematology, Oncology, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Specialist of the Japan Pediatric Society, Specialist and Supervising Doctor of the Japanese Society of Hematology, Certified Doctor of the Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy |
| Specialized Areas | Hematopoietic cell transplantation for refractory leukemias, both acquired or inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, inborn errors of metabolism, and primary immunodeficiencies with poor prognosis |
| Outpatient medical day | Wednesday |