Professor Norbert Claude Gorin
Professor Norbert Claude Gorin, the first Chair of the Global Committee of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), discussed the evolution of transplantation strategies for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and the importance of international cooperation. In an interview with Hematology Frontier during the second 2025 CTI conference in Hangzhou, he highlighted how decades of progress have reshaped the treatment landscape.
Prof. Gorin explained that stem cell transplantation, the only curative option for most AML patients, has undergone significant changes. Patient eligibility has expanded, with age limits rising from 55 to 75 years thanks to less toxic, reduced-intensity conditioning regimens. The donor pool has also widened dramatically; where once only genoidentical siblings were options, the use of haploidentical donors means almost any family member can now be a match. This, combined with the shift from invasive marrow collection to simpler peripheral blood stem cell leukapheresis, has made transplantation accessible to nearly all patients in need.
The integration of novel therapies is further enhancing outcomes. Prof. Gorin noted that targeted therapies, which specifically attack leukemic cells, are now combined with chemotherapy to increase efficacy. Furthermore, immunotherapies like T-cell engagers and monoclonal antibodies are becoming key tools. He expressed great optimism for the future, particularly with CAR-T cell therapies, predicting that AML cure rates could rise from the current 50% to 65% within the next decade.
A central theme was the success of global partnerships, particularly the EBMT’s collaboration with China. As Chair of the Global Committee, established in 2017, Prof. Gorin has overseen the inclusion of 39 Chinese transplant centers into the EBMT. Their data now contributes to the vast EBMT registry of over 800,000 patients, fostering powerful joint research that has already resulted in approximately ten shared scientific publications. Prof. Gorin described this synergy as a “win-win story” for advancing global hematology.
