Sakurai, Masatoshi

写真a

Affiliation

School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine (Hematology) ( Shinanomachi )

Position

Associate Professor
Scopus Paper Info  
Paper Count: 93 Citation Count: 895 h-index: 15

Click to view the Scopus page. The data was downloaded from Scopus API in September 06, 2026, via http://api.elsevier.com and http://www.scopus.com .

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Research Areas 【 Display / hide 】

  • Life Science / Hematology and medical oncology

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Research Keywords 【 Display / hide 】

  • hematological malignancies

  • hematopoietic stem cell

  • hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

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Papers 【 Display / hide 】

  • Lymphoma risk in autoimmune diseases with multiple medication use: analysis from the LIFE Study

    Inokuchi A., Kim H., Sakurai M., Masuda K., Mizuno K., Koda Y., Matsuki E., Kogure Y., Ukita S., Maeda M., Oda F., Kaneko Y., Sato Y., Fukuda H., Kataoka K.

    Blood Cancer Journal 16 ( 1 ) 11 2026.12

    　View Summary

    Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are associated with an increased risk of lymphoma. Although treatment strategies have changed substantially in AIDs, recent evidence regarding this association is lacking. Particularly, the impact of novel immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory agents and the cumulative effect of multiple medication use on lymphoma risk have not been well investigated. To address these, we used the LIFE Study database, which contains health care claims data from 2014 to 2023 in 15 municipalities in Japan. Of 2,229,423 individuals, 211,592 had AIDs and 530 subsequently developed lymphoma. Overall, AID cases had a significantly higher incidence of lymphoma than non-AID cases (hazard ratio [HR] 1.9). Among 23 AIDs, lymphoma risk was significantly elevated in 14, including Takayasu arteritis (6.6) and adult-onset Still’s disease (4.7). Among immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory agents, calcineurin inhibitors, iguratimod, or methotrexate were associated with higher lymphoma risks. Importantly, the use of two or more medications strongly increased lymphoma risk (HR 2.7) in AID cases. Lymphoma subtype-specific analysis revealed novel associations, including T/NK-cell lymphoma in systemic lupus erythematosus. Our large-scale cohort study reveals an increased risk of lymphoma in AID patients, particularly those receiving multiple immunosuppressants/immunomodulators, underscoring the need for careful monitoring in these patients.

  • Drivers of temporal improvement in CAR T-cell therapy for large B-cell lymphoma: a Japanese nationwide registry analysis

    Yagi Y., Kanemasa Y., Terao T., Kato M., Jo T., Shimoyama T., Kitawaki T., Hanajiri R., Doki N., Yoshihara S., Fujii N., Iwaki N., Yamamoto G., Sakurai M., Matsukawa T., Sakaida E., Nakashima Y., Yoshida A., Umezawa Y., Kim H., Kataoka K., Goto H., Atsuta Y., Kato K.

    Blood Advances 10 ( 13 ) 4427 - 4438 2026.07

    ISSN  24739529

    　View Summary

    Real-world CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) is characterized by expanded eligibility and evolving management practices. However, the prognostic impact of these changes remains inconsistent, and the specific drivers of outcomes remain unclear. This study analyzed 913 patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) LBCL from a Japanese registry and compared the outcomes between 2 calendar periods (2019-2021 vs 2022-2024). The 2022-2024 cohort was older, had more adverse baseline features, and was less pretreated. Treatment patterns have shifted toward higher utilization of second-line therapy, a growing preference for axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) and lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel), and improved disease control before infusion. Accordingly, the 2022-2024 cohort achieved a longer progression-free survival (PFS; 6-month PFS, 63.2% vs 55.2%; P = .005), which persisted after adjusting for baseline characteristics using propensity score matching. Multivariable analysis identified second-line therapy, improved preinfusion disease control, and a shift in product selection from tisagenlecleucel to axi-cel or liso-cel as the primary drivers of this improvement. This benefit was pronounced in high-risk populations, including patients with stable or progressive disease at infusion (6-month PFS, 54.6% vs 43.8%; P = .012) and those who were refractory to first-line therapy (6-month PFS, 51.7% vs 40.3%; P = .013). Despite broader use in higher-risk populations and greater axi-cel exposure, 6-month nonrelapse mortality remained low (2.1% vs 1.5%). Real-world outcomes of CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for R/R LBCL have improved, predominantly driven by second-line therapy, enhanced preinfusion disease control, and increased use of more potent CAR T products.

  • Decreased renal function predicts severe cytokine release syndrome after CAR-T-cell therapy for large B-cell lymphoma

    Arai Y., Jo T., Sato T., Sakurai M., Kaji D., Kitawaki T., Shimada K., Shimoyama T., Yoshihara S., Makita S., Fujii N., Yamamoto G., Kataoka K., Sakaida E., Goto H., Nakashima Y., Yoshida A., Umezawa Y., Kim H., Kato M., Atsuta Y., Kato K.

    British Journal of Haematology 208 ( 6 ) 2124 - 2133 2026.06

    ISSN  00071048

    　View Summary

    Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) remains a major toxicity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), and robust pre-infusion predictors are needed for risk-adapted management. We retrospectively analysed LBCL patients in the Japanese nationwide registry who underwent CD19 CAR-T-cell therapy between 2019 and 2024. Among 900 patients (median age 62 years), cumulative incidences of CRS within 30 days after infusion were 75.0% for any grade, 20.8% for grade ≥ 2 and 14.0% for grade ≥ 3. In multivariable analysis, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.108 per 10 mL/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup> decrease; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.015–1.209; p = 0.022), higher ferritin (aHR 1.006 per 100 ng/mL; 95% CI 1.001–1.010; p = 0.016), C-reactive protein (CRP) (aHR 1.142 per mg/dL; 95% CI 1.091–1.195; p < 0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (aHR 1.073 per 100 U/L; 95% CI 1.008–1.142; p = 0.028) independently predicted grade ≥ 2 CRS. We then built a four-factor CRS pre-infusion risk evaluation model, cytokine release syndrome-pre-infusion risk evaluation (CRS-PRE), that stratified grade ≥ 2 CRS risk into low, intermediate and high groups with incidences of 2.8%, 26.0% and 50.0% respectively. Decreased eGFR, a surrogate of host renal reserve, with elevated ferritin, CRP and LDH emerged as predictors of high-grade CRS. The CRS-PRE may facilitate risk-adapted monitoring and intervention in clinical practice.

  • Trends in survival outcomes after allogeneic transplantation for MDS and MDS/MPN in a real-world experience: A 25-year nationwide study

    Itonaga H., Miyazaki Y., Tachi N., Kurosawa S., Marumo A., Konuma T., Ebina T., Doki N., Uchida N., Fukuda T., Nishida T., Katayama Y., Asada N., Sakurai M., Maeda T., Eto T., Tanaka M., Nakamae H., Onizuka M., Kawamura K., Kanda Y., Atsuta Y., Tachibana T.

    British Journal of Haematology 208 ( 6 ) 2143 - 2155 2026.06

    ISSN  00071048

    　View Summary

    Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) offers a curative potential for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN). We examined survival trends using a nationwide database of 7175 patients who underwent their first allo-HSCT between 1998 and 2022. Overall mortality decreased over time in patients with early MDS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65–0.97, p = 0.026 in 2013–2017; HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.42–0.70, p < 0.001 in 2018–2022), advanced MDS (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71–0.90, p < 0.001 in 2013–2017; HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.65–0.85, p < 0.001 in 2018–2022), chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.32–0.64, p < 0.001 in 2013–2017; HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.37–0.74, p < 0.001 in 2018–2022) and atypical chronic myeloid leukaemia (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.13–0.80, p = 0.016 in 2013–2017; HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.10–0.68, p = 0.006 in 2018–2022). These decreases in overall mortality were mainly attributable to reductions in non-relapse mortality. Meanwhile, no significant difference in overall mortality was observed in patients with MDS/MPN-unclassified and therapy-related myeloid neoplasm. Across all disease subtypes, relapse incidence did not significantly decrease over time, highlighting persistent challenges in reducing the risk of post-transplant relapse.

  • Disease burden and treatment patterns of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in Japan: a real-world survey

    Sakurai M., Ueda Y., Obara N., Kroes M., Dochi T., Wiyani A., Balp M.M., Somenzi O., Taylor Y., Kawaguchi T., Nishimura J.I.

    International Journal of Hematology 123 ( 6 ) 837 - 847 2026.06

    ISSN  09255710

    　View Summary

    This study aimed to determine the clinical profile and disease burden of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in Japan using real-world data from the Adelphi Real World PNH Disease Specific Programme (DSP)™, a cross-sectional survey conducted between January and December 2022. Data included demographics, treatment, and clinical values (hemoglobin [Hb] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]). Patient-reported outcome measures included the EQ-5D-5L and the FACIT-Fatigue. Seventeen physicians provided information on 45 patients, among whom 86.7% were receiving treatment with complement 5 inhibitors (C5i). Median (IQR) age was 65.0 (54.5, 73.0) years; 55.6% were male. Among C5i-treated patients (n = 39), 51.3% received ravulizumab and 48.7% eculizumab, for a median (IQR) duration of 1.6 (1.0, 2.7) years. Median (IQR) Hb level was 7.2 (7.0, 8.1) g/dL at diagnosis and 10.0 (8.8, 10.6) g/dL at survey; 91.4% had LDH levels exceeding 1.5 times the upper limit of normal at diagnosis, 11.4% at survey. Twelve patients returned a self-completed questionnaire. Patient-reported symptoms included tiredness (83.3%), shortness of breath (75.0%), and anemia (58.3%). Mean (SD) EQ-5D-5L and FACIT-Fatigue scores were 0.73 (0.16) and 32.3 (7.1). Even C5i-treated patients continued to experience substantial disease burden, highlighting the need for more effective treatments to improve quality of life.

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Papers, etc., Registered in KOARA 【 Display / hide 】

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Reviews, Commentaries, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

  • CAR T細胞療法の現在とこれから　LBCL治療におけるCAR-T細胞療法の位置づけと地域連携

    櫻井 政寿

    日本輸血細胞治療学会誌 ((一社)日本輸血・細胞治療学会)  72 ( 2 ) 319 - 319 2026.04

    ISSN  1881-3011

  • Disease status at CAR T-cell infusion in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma: prognostic significance for real-world outcomes, irrespective of bridging therapy

    Yagi Y., Kanemasa Y., Goto H., Yamamoto M., Miyao K., Hagihara M., Kitawaki T., Shimoyama T., Hanajiri R., Makita S., Yamamoto G., Sakurai M., Fujii N., Ara T., Nakashima Y., Yoshida A., Nakazawa H., Sakaida E., Kanemura N., Kim H., Kataoka K., Atsuta Y., Kato K.

    Bone Marrow Transplantation 61 ( 4 ) 492 - 495 2026.04

    ISSN  02683369

  • CAR-T細胞治療における有害事象管理

    北村 愛花, 櫻井 政寿

    リウマチ科 ((有)科学評論社)  75 ( 4 ) 443 - 450 2026.04

    ISSN  0915-227X

  • 自己免疫疾患における複数薬剤の使用はリンパ腫リスクを増加させる　LIFE Studyによる解析

    井口 亜美, 金 夏倫, 櫻井 政寿, 増田 恭子, 水野 洸太, 甲田 祐也, 松木 絵里, 木暮 泰寛, 浮田 翔子, 前田 恵, 小田 太史, 佐藤 泰憲, 福田 治久, 片岡 圭亮

    日本血液学会学術集会 ((一社)日本血液学会)  87回   O1 - 17C 2025.10

  • 本邦における大細胞型B細胞性リンパ腫患者に対するCAR-T療法の治療成績の経時的改善

    八木 悠, 金政 佑典, 寺尾 俊紀, 加藤 元博, 城 友泰, 下山 達, 北脇 年雄, 寺倉 精太郎, 土岐 典子, 吉原 哲, 藤井 伸治, 岩城 憲子, 山本 豪, 櫻井 政寿, 松川 敏大, 堺田 惠美子, 金 夏倫, 片岡 圭亮, 後藤 秀樹, 熱田 由子, 加藤 光次

    日本血液学会学術集会 ((一社)日本血液学会)  87回   O1 - 13B 2025.10

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Presentations 【 Display / hide 】

  • Impaired hematopoietic differentiation of iPSCs derived from a patient with FPD/AML.

    櫻井政寿、國本博義、渡邊直英、福地由美、定平健、湯浅慎介、福田恵一、山崎聡、中内啓光、海老原康博、辻浩一郎、伊藤悦朗、原田結花、原田浩徳、岡本真一郎、中島秀明

    [Domestic presentation]  第17回造血器腫瘍研究会 (宮崎) , 

    2013
    , 

    Oral presentation (general)

  • 大量 melphalan 療法に伴う嘔気・嘔吐に対する aprepitant の有効性の検討。

    櫻井 政寿、森 毅彦、加藤 淳、山根 明子、小橋 澄子、清水 隆之、岡本 真一郎

    [Domestic presentation]  第35回日本造血細胞移植学会 (金沢) , 

    2013
    , 

    Poster presentation

  • 若年者慢性骨髄性白血病患者におけるチロシンキナーゼ阻害薬の治療成績の検討

    >

    第75回日本血液学会学術集会 (大阪) , 

    2013
    , 

    Oral presentation (general)

  • 国際PNHレジストリにおける日本人患者の特徴

    櫻井政寿、岡本真一郎、臼杵憲祐、西村純一、川口辰哉、二宮治彦、七島勉、岡田昌也、中熊秀喜、中尾眞二、金倉譲

    第75回日本血液学会学術集会 (大阪) , 

    2013

  • 家族性血小板異常症(FPD/AML)における血小板機能異常

    櫻井政寿、渡邊直英、國本博義、福地由美、定平健、阿部大地、相馬俊介、伊藤悦朗、原田結花、原田浩徳、岡本真一郎、中島秀明

    [Domestic presentation]  第75回日本血液学会学術集会 (大阪) , 

    2013
    , 

    Oral presentation (general)

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Research Projects of Competitive Funds, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

  • 生体外増幅造血幹細胞の定量的評価法の開発

    2024.04
    -
    2028.03

    Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), Principal investigator

    　View Summary

    造血幹細胞（hematopoietic stem cell; HSC）は、骨髄に存在する稀な細胞で、自己複製能とすべての成熟した血球への分化能を持つ。HSCは臍帯血中にも存在するが、含まれる数は限られており、造血再構築を持続させるには十分な数ではないことも多い。今回、申請者は、高分子ポリマーをベースとした培養液を用い、既存の方法を大きく上回る臍帯血由来HSCの体外増幅に成功した。
    しかし、増幅したHSCの定量的評価方法は明らかではない。したがって、本研究では増幅後HSCの定量的評価、具体的には増幅後HSCマーカーの同定を行うことを目的とする。
    本研究は、臍帯血由来ヒト造血幹細胞（HSC）を効率的に体外増幅するための新規培養法の開発を目的としている。これまでの研究で申請者は、高分子ポリマー（ポリビニルアルコール［PVA］およびpolyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer［PCL-PVAc-PEG］）をベースとし、PI3K刺激薬、TPO受容体作動薬、UM171等の低分子化合物を組み合わせることで、従来のサイトカイン依存法を大幅に上回るHSCの増幅技術を世界に先駆けて確立した。
    一方で、この培養法は、培養期間が延長すると一部のHSCが巨核球系へと望ましくない分化を示すという課題があった。そこで初年度は、この課題を解決し増幅効率をさらに高めるべく、培養条件の改善に取り組んだ。具体的には、既存の培養系で用いていた各種化合物の濃度調整を詳細に検討するとともに、新たな化合物のスクリーニングと導入を進めている。特に、既存の化合物のうちPI3K刺激薬の濃度を細かく調節することで分化制御を試みると同時に、新規化合物については幹細胞維持能を指標として段階的かつ網羅的に評価を進めている。
    今後さらにこの取り組みを進めることで、培養条件ごとのHSCの特性変化に関するデータが蓄積され、増幅後細胞の定量評価方法や特異的な機能マーカーの同定といった、本研究が最終目標とする課題への重要な知見となることが期待される。これらの成果は、将来的に臍帯血移植の効率化や造血幹細胞を用いた遺伝子治療技術の発展にも大きく貢献すると考えられる。
    本研究は既に示された独自の技術基盤をもとに開始したため、研究開始時点で確立された実験系および評価指標が明確であったことが挙げられる。このため、初年度から試行錯誤の段階を最小限に抑え、具体的かつ的確な課題の改善に集中して取り組むことが可能であった。第二に、初年度の課題であった培養期間の延長に伴う巨核球系分化の問題について、既存の化合物濃度の詳細な最適化に加え、新規化合物のスクリーニングを迅速かつ効率的に実施できている。これにより、初年度の段階でCD34陽性細胞の増幅効率をさらに高めるきっかけがつかめている。
    このように、明確な研究基盤と課題解決によって、初年度の研究目標は予定通り達成されていると考える。
    今後は、初年度に得られた巨核球系分化抑制とCD34陽性細胞の増幅効率改善の成果を踏まえ、さらに培養系の最適化を進めていく。具体的には、化合物の種類や濃度だけでなく、培養時間や細胞密度、培養温度など細胞培養の物理的条件も体系的に評価し、造血幹細胞（HSC）増幅をより効率化する条件設定を行う。また、増幅後の細胞が真に幹細胞としての機能を有していることを客観的かつ定量的に評価するため、新規HSC特異的マーカーの同定を目指した網羅的解析を開始していきたい。これにより、増幅した細胞集団の定量評価法の確立を目指す。
    さらに、近年、CAR-T細胞療法後に持続する血球減少が新たな臨床課題として浮上している。この問題の解決に向けて、本研究で開発・改善している造血幹細胞の効率的な増幅法を活用し、患者自身の末梢血由来HSCを事前に増幅し投与するアプローチも検討している。
    これらを円滑に推進するため、新規評価技術の導入や試薬・設備整備等、研究環境の充実にも努めていく。

  • Functional analysis of RUNX1 gene using a novel ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell culture method

    2020.04
    -
    2022.03

    MEXT,JSPS, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Sakurai Masatoshi, Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists , Principal investigator

    　View Summary

    Functional analysis of genes involved in hematopoietic development, hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance and blood cell differentiation has been conducted mainly in mice, making analysis in humans difficult. Recently, a long-term ex vivo culture method of mouse HSCs using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) instead of serum or albumin was developed. However, human HSCs could not be cultured by this method, and I tried to establish a culture method for human HSCs. I found that the PI3K/AKT pathway is downregulated in human HSCs, and finally established a novel chemically-defined culture technique that can expand human HSCs approximately 2800-fold for 30 days ex vivo by using a PI3K stimulator, a TPO receptor agonist, UM171 and a polymer.

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Courses Taught 【 Display / hide 】

  • PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL ISSUES IN CHRONIC CARE

    2026

  • CLINICAL ONCOLOGY

    2026

  • CLINICAL CLERKSHIP IN INTERNAL MEDICINE (HEMATOLOGY)

    2026

  • LECTURE SERIES, INTERNAL MEDICINE (HEMATOLOGY)

    2026

  • CLINICAL CLERKSHIP IN HEMATOLOGY

    2026

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