Current Projects
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This study compared the pattern of PV in an area of Pennsylvania where people have similar characteristics (such as age and race) to people in the tri-county/cluster area. The study was conducted in Blair, Somerset, Cambria, and Bedford counties in southwest Pennsylvania.
This study aimed to improve physicians’ reporting of PV and other blood cancers to central cancer registries. CDC funded three state cancer registries to evaluate and improve the way that doctors’ offices report PV and other blood cancers. The project evaluated diagnosis and reporting practices, increased physician awareness of reporting requirements and processes, and built an infrastructure for electronic reporting of blood cancers from hematology practices.
- Factsheet: Updated and expanded study of polycythemia vera and other myeloproliferative neoplasms in the tri-county area pdf icon[PDF – 125 KB]
- Article: Updated and expanded study of polycythemia vera and other myeloproliferative neoplasms in the tri-county area pdf icon[PDF – 748 KB]
- Article: Chronic myelogenous leukemia in eastern Pennsylvania: an assessment of registry reporting pdf icon[PDF – 100 KB]
The cytogenetic study is assessing if PV patients living in the cluster area are genetically prone to develop the disease.
This study monitored the levels of the JAK2V617F mutation in participants identified during ATSDR’s community health screening. More than 1,000 community members participated in this health screening in 2010. JAK2V617F-positivie participants were evaluated twice yearly, including testing of how much JAK2V617F mutation was in their bodies. Participants were evaluated for at least three years.
This study is determining what percentage of a select population of people in Pennsylvania has the JAK2V617F mutation. The study evaluated about 6,000 people living outside the cluster area and 1,500 people living within the cluster area.
The objective of this project was to collect and store tissue samples from patients with MPN disorders. The sample collection period ended in 2014, but the donations will continue to be available for researchers to access via the Myeloproliferative Disease Research Consortium (MPD-RC).
This study is evaluating whether 18 environmental contaminants that were historically present in the PV cluster area can cause DNA damage.
- Factsheet: Environmental toxic substances found historically in the PV cluster area and their potential for inducing DNA damage pdf icon[PDF – 386 KB]
- 2018 Journal of Environmental and Analytical Tox: Environmental Toxins Found Historically in the Polycythemia Vera Cluster Area and their Potential for Inducing DNA Damagepdf iconexternal icon
This study examined potential contamination of drinking water and air that might be linked to the higher-than-expected rate of PV cases in the tri-county area. Researchers assessed the potential exposures of cluster-area residents to present and past contamination.
This purpose of this project was to develop a database containing federal, state, and other relevant data and documents about contaminants from hazardous waste sites and other operations, industries, or businesses that release toxic material within the cluster area.
This project collected more data about contaminants in the water flowing out of the McAdoo Superfund site and in monitoring wells near three waste coal burning plants. This project also collected environmental contaminant levels inside and outside of homes in the cluster area. Testing included homes of people with a PV diagnosis and people who do not have PV.
- Health Consultation: Review of Radiological Data Measured in the Polycythemia Vera Investigation Study Area in Carbon, Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties, Pennsylvania pdf icon[PDF – 1.26 MB]
- Factsheet: Review of Radiological Environmental Data Measured in the Polycythemia Vera Investigation Study Area in Carbon, Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties, Pennsylvania pdf icon[PDF – 822 KB]