Working environment and myeloproliferative neoplasm: A population-based case-control study following a cluster investigation.

Background: Occupational exposures, including those to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), are suspected risk factors for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN).

Methods: We investigated occupational exposures and MPN risk (54 cases and 472 controls) in a population-based case-control study in three rural Pennsylvania counties. Occupational histories, coded to SIC/SOC 1980, were linked to a previously created PAH job-exposure matrix.

The role of genotypes that modify the toxicity of chemical mutagens in the risk for myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Background: The etiology of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) (polycythemia vera; essential thrombocythemia; primary myelofibrosis) is unknown, however they are associated with a somatic mutation--JAK2 V617F--suggesting a potential role for environmental mutagens.

Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study in three rural Pennsylvania counties of persons born 1921-1968 and residing in the area between 2000-2008. Twenty seven MPN cases and 292 controls were recruited through random digit dialing.

A multidisciplinary investigation of a polycythemia vera cancer cluster of unknown origin.

Cancer cluster investigations rarely receive significant public health resource allocations due to numerous inherent challenges and the limited success of past efforts. In 2008, a cluster of polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer with unknown etiology, was identified in northeast Pennsylvania. A multidisciplinary group of federal and state agencies, academic institutions, and local healthcare providers subsequently developed a multifaceted research portfolio designed to better understand the cause of the cluster.

Population-based retrieval of newborn dried blood spots for researching paediatric cancer susceptibility genes.

We have demonstrated the feasibility of linking newborn blood spots, population-based cancer incidence data and birth certificate data. Incident cases of acute lymphocytic leukaemia and population-based controls were ascertained. We retrieved dried blood spot specimens, isolated and amplified DNA, and assayed the cancer susceptibility genes GSTT1 and GSTM1.

An overview of the North American residential radon and lung cancer case-control studies.

Lung cancer has held the distinction as the most common cancer type worldwide since 1985 (Parkin et al., 1993). Recent estimates suggest that lung cancer accounted for 1.

A combined analysis of North American case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer.

Cohort studies have consistently shown underground miners exposed to high levels of radon to be at excess risk of lung cancer, and extrapolations based on those results indicate that residential radon may be responsible for nearly 10-15% of all lung cancer deaths per year in the United States. However, case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer have provided ambiguous evidence of radon lung cancer risks. Regardless, alpha-particle emissions from the short-lived radioactive radon decay products can damage cellular DNA.

Residential radon and risk of lung cancer: a combined analysis of 7 North American case-control studies.

Background: Underground miners exposed to high levels of radon have an excess risk of lung cancer. Residential exposure to radon is at much lower levels, and the risk of lung cancer with residential exposure is less clear. We conducted a systematic analysis of pooled data from all North American residential radon studies.

Familial aggregation of melanoma risks in a large population-based sample of melanoma cases.

Objective: Melanoma has been shown in numerous studies to be associated with sun exposure, and with host phenotypic factors of genetic origin. In this study we use information from a large series of incident cases of melanoma from an international population-based study to examine the patterns of incidence of melanoma in the first-degree relatives of these cases.

Methods: A total of 2508 incident cases of melanoma provided information on basic demographic data and pigmentary characteristics, in addition to detailed information on family history of melanoma.

Cancer incidence in adolescents and young adults in the United States, 1992-1997.

Purpose: To examine cancer incidence patterns among adolescents and young adults in the United States.

Methods: Cancer incidence data from 26 population-based central cancer registries for 1992-1997 were used. Individual cancers were grouped into specific diagnostic groups and subgroups using an integrated classification scheme.