Hiroto Inaba, MD, PhD

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for approximately 20% to 25% of all pediatric cancers. Over the last 50 years, technological advances in diagnosis and disease evaluation, the optimization of conventional chemotherapy, and the introduction of new treatment strategies have increased the five-year survival rate to more than 90% in high-income countries. However, there are ways by which we can improve the survival rate even further and minimize treatment-related acute and late effects. 

Molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapies have revolutionized ALL treatment, and they stand to cure even more children with a diagnosis of ALL. In addition, ALL is classified by genetic analysis into multiple subtypes that can be used for risk-stratification and for selecting molecular targeted therapy. I am interested in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of these aspects of ALL and in applying that knowledge to develop the most effective therapies. We aim to optimize therapies that not only increase survival rates but also minimize the intensity of treatment, the number of acute complications, and late sequelae.

Information from prospective and retrospective case studies plays a large role in our understanding of ALL with respect to diagnosis, risk-stratification, effective therapy, response to treatment, and supportive care. This clinical research, along with basic and translational studies, is guiding the next generation of leukemia treatment strategies. We hope that approaches similar to those developed for ALL can also be applied to acute myeloid leukemia and lymphoma. 

Since 2022, I have served as the Program Director for the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program. In this role, I guide the education and professional development of the next generation of clinician and scientists so that they can not only provide compassionate clinical care to their patients but also conduct research that will bring forth the next generation of treatments and cures.