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 2025, we performed one related bone marrow transplant and one peripheral blood stem cell transplant, and three unrelated bone marrow transplants and three umbilical cord blood transplants. The diseases treated were two cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and one case each of acute myeloid leukemia, malignant lymphoma, aplastic anemia, congenital keratosis, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, and adrenoleukodystrophy. All patients have successfully engrafted donor cells and are currently alive. To date, since our first successful allogeneic bone marrow transplant in March 1982, we have performed 652 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants and 48 autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplants on 576 patients by December 2025. During this period, in September 1993, we successfully performed the world's first allogeneic CD34-positive cell transplant from an HLA-mismatched donor, and in October 1994, we successfully performed Japan's first umbilical cord blood transplant. In the treatment of aplastic anemia, our hospital plays a central role in Japan, having performed 107 transplants for congenital aplastic anemia (89 for Fanconi anemia, a representative disease) and 87 for acquired aplastic anemia, achieving the highest number of cases in Japan and world-class results in both categories. In addition, we have performed the highest number of transplants in Japan for congenital metabolic disorders, with 105 transplants.
Doctor List
外来:0463-93-1121 内線6381
Hiromasa Yabe (Part-time doctor)
| Specialization | Pediatrics, Hematology, Oncology, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Japanese Society of Hematology Specialist and Instructor / Japanese Society of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Certified Physician |
| 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 |
