About the PCROWD Study
The PCROWD Study invites people with precursor conditions to:
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Share samples a few times each year when they are collected as part of routine follow up care
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Allow us to track changes that occur in their samples and medical record
OUR STUDY'S GOAL
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We aim to track 10,000 individuals with early stages of blood cancer or precursor conditions which include (in alphabetical order):
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Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential (CHIP)
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Monoclonal B cell Lymphocytosis (MBL)
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Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
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Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)
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Smoldering or Indolent Multiple Myeloma (SMM)
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Smoldering Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (SWM)
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OTHER precursor hematological condition
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We will greatly expand the available data that will help us predict, and ultimately prevent, these types of blood cancers from progressing.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
INVITE VOLUNTEERS
We are asking for 10,000 individual volunteers diagnosed with blood precursor conditions to sign up.
TRACK CHANGES OVER TIME
We will gather data and intensively study this group of people over time. Blood and/or bone marrow samples will be collected at the same time as other samples that have been ordered as part of routine clinical care to follow their precursor conditions. Therefore, we will never ask individuals to undergo tests or procedures that are not required as part of their routine care.
LEARN FROM FINDINGS
The large data set we build will help us identify which factors are associated with disease progression and which ones are more likely to remain harmless.
INNOVATE
We will use this information to develop new strategies and therapies that prevent blood cancer from progressing. We will also learn more about which therapies are likely to help certain types of people.
WHO WILL BE HELPED?
We all benefit from advancing our collective knowledge of cancer. Specifically, blood cancer and its pre-cancer conditions affect approximately in 3 to 5% percent of individuals aged 50 or older.
Because much remains unknown about these types of blood cancers and their precursor conditions, healthcare providers often opt to "watch and wait". Although the watch and wait approach may be advisable in many situations, more data is needed to help patients and their providers make informed choices about early treatment options.
HOW MIGHT THIS STUDY CHANGE THE FUTURE?
We are paving the way for today's young people to live in a world where blood cancer is treatable and curable. We support those people with early signs who are tackling the anxiety of "watchful waiting." Leading cancer experts have stepped up to study what can be done to improve the outlook. (Learn more about our leadership team.)
By arming ourselves with data, these studies promise to change the landscape of screening, diagnosis, early prevention and interception of this disease.
These studies will not only lead to a better understanding of the risk factors for progression, but will also provide a road-map of therapeutic options that will make blood cancer a preventable or possibly curable disease.