The 52nd National Hematology Congress, organized by the Turkish Hematology Association (THD), was held in Antalya from 12 to 16 September 2025. The five‑day event took place at a hotel in Belek and attracted more than 1,200 participants, including clinicians, researchers, and industry representatives from Turkey and abroad. At the closing press conference, THD President Prof. Dr. Özgür Mehtap described the congress as one of the country’s most important scientific gatherings. He noted that the congress featured 34 sessions and 12 satellite symposia, and that 346 abstracts were accepted and presented. Mehtap also highlighted a joint meeting with the European Pathology Association and a workshop titled “How to Conduct Scientific Research,” which received contributions from over 30 international participants. THD Vice‑President Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Ünüvar spoke about acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). She emphasized that the exact cause of leukemia remains unknown, but that inherited blood disorders are significant risk factors. Ünüvar reported that treatment advances have raised the success rate for childhood ALL to over 90 % with current protocols. She added that national treatment guidelines are being updated and that physicians are receiving training on new therapeutic approaches. Ünüvar also mentioned the potential of targeted therapies to reduce side effects on healthy organs, stating, “We are truly hopeful; there are rapid developments in cancer treatment.” THD Secretary‑General Prof. Dr. Elif Birtaş Ateşoğlu provided data on stem‑cell transplantation. She explained that for patients lacking a fully matched donor, transplants from partially matched family members have become more common, expanding access to treatment. Ateşoğlu noted that Turkey has a strong infrastructure for stem‑cell transplantation and reported that in 2025 a total of 4,215 stem‑cell transplants were performed nationwide, comprising 1,681 donor‑derived grafts and the remainder from patients’ own cells. She described these procedures as offering patients and families renewed hope for survival.
Article and image source: Haberler