# Prevalence of Chronic Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential Among WTC Responders

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2020 · $499,631

## Abstract

A recent update of cancer incidence among members of the WTC General Responders Cohort (GRC)
indicates an increased incidence of hematologic neoplasms, and specifically leukemia. Leukemia and other
hematologic neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of cancers that arise from acquired genetic and epigenetic
alterations in hematopoietic precursor cells. The presence of alterations in key genes can be detected prior to
overt hematological manifestations due to increasing availability of molecular testing among individuals who do
not yet meet the diagnostic criteria for a hematologic neoplasm. The detection of mutated clones in healthy
individuals has been defined as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). Mutations
characteristically associated with hematologic neoplasm risk were identified in 4 percent of those aged 60 or
more; these individuals are also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
 The overarching aim of this study is to determine whether WTC exposed subjects have an increased
prevalence of CHIP, to test the hypothesis that CHIP-specific mutations will be detected in a subgroup of healthy
WTC responders, allowing earlier identification of a subpopulation at higher risk for developing hematologic
neoplasms and cardiovascular disease. In Specific Aim 1 we plan to determine the prevalence of CHIP in 350
WTC responders, and to compare it with unexposed controls. In Specific Aim 2 we plan to investigate the
association between prevalence of CHIP and cardiovascular biomarkers, risk factors and risk scores in WTC
responders. In Specific Aim 3, we plan to investigate the association between prevalence of CHIP and
quantitative measures of WTC exposure.
 The integration of the results would lead to the identification of WTC responders at high risk of CHIP-
related conditions, who might be subjects to enhanced medical surveillance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10064768
- **Project number:** 1U01OH012071-01
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** John Mascarenhas
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $499,631
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10064768

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10064768, Prevalence of Chronic Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential Among WTC Responders (1U01OH012071-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10064768. Licensed CC0.

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