Unrelated donors for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the People's Republic of China

The number of hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT) in China has increased dramatically, especially since the late 1990s. As the one child policy has been implemented in China, more and more alternative donors such as unrelated donors (URD) have been used for patients who need transplantation without a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) identical sibling donor. A dramatic increase in the number of URD-HSCTs performed in China was observed after the Chinese Marrow Donor Program started servicing the public in 2001, resulting in the rapid expansion of the donor pool. The most common indication is hematological malignancies in URD-HSCT. Advances in HLA-typing techniques, a reduced intensity conditioning regimen, and prophylaxis strategy for GVHD have greatly improved the outcome and expanded patient eligibility for URD-HSCT. With rapid the economic development in China there will be much development potential for HSCT.