Dana E. Rollison, PhD

Dr. Rollison’s primary research focus is the molecular epidemiology of human polyomavirus and papillomavirus infections in relation to cancer.  Specifically, she has investigated the presence of JC virus (JCV), BK virus (BKV), and/or simian virus 40 (SV40) in brain tumors and bladder cancer, and conducted seroepidemiological studies of JCV, BKV and SV40 in the context of brain tumors, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and colorectal cancer.  In recent years, she has expanded her research to encompass emerging cutaneous infections as risk factors for the development of non-melanoma skin cancers, including Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and multiple types of cutaneous human papillomaviruses (HPV) in genera alpha, beta, gamma, mu and nu.  Through this work, she has demonstrated that individuals with squamous cell carcinomas of the skin exhibit higher levels of antibodies to MCPyV and cutaneous HPV compared to cancer-free controls, and that the tumor tissues themselves contain DNA corresponding to the same types of viruses.  Dr. Rollison is currently participating in the International Agency for Research on Cancer Monographs Working Group on Polyomaviruses.

• Yang L, Mailloux A, Rollison DE, Painter JS, Maciejewski J, Paquette RL, Loughran TP, McGraw K, Makishima H, Radhakrishnan R, Wei S, Ren X, Komrokji R, List AF, Epling-Burnette PK. Naive T-cells in myelodysplastic syndrome display intrinsic human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) deficiency. Leukemia. 2013 Jun;27(4):897-906. Pubmedid: 23072779.
• Farma JM, Zager JS, Barnica-Elvir V, Puleo CA, Marzban SS, Rollison DE, Messina JL, Sondak VK. A collision of diseases: chronic lymphocytic leukemia discovered during lymph node biopsy for melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013 Apr;20(4):1360-1364. Pubmedid: 23179994.
• Anic GM, Sondak VK, Messina JL, Fenske NA, Zager JS, Cherpelis BS, Lee JH, Fulp WJ, Epling-Burnette PK, Park JY, Rollison DE. Telomere length and risk of melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol. 2013 Mar;37(4):434-439. Pubmedid: 23523330.
• Iannacone MR, Gheit T, Waterboer T, Giuliano AR, Messina JL, Fenske NA, Cherpelis BS, Sondak VK, Roetzheim RG, Ferrer-Gil S, Michael KM, McKay-Chopin S, Pawlita M, Tommasino M, Rollison DE. Case-control study of cutaneous human papillomavirus infection in Basal cell carcinoma of the skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2013 Jan;133(6):1512-1520. Pubmedid: 23303448.
• Komrokji RS, Corrales-Yepez M, Kharfan-Dabaja MA, Al Ali NH, Padron E, Rollison DE, Pinilla-Ibarz J, Zhang L, Epling-Burnette PK, Lancet JE, List AF. Hypoalbuminemia is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in myelodysplastic syndromes. Am J Hematol. 2012 Nov;87(11):1006-1009. Pubmedid: 23090887.
• Iannacone MR, Gheit T, Waterboer T, Giuliano AR, Messina JL, Fenske NA, Cherpelis BS, Sondak VK, Roetzheim RG, Michael KM, Tommasino M, Pawlita M, Rollison DE. Case-control study of cutaneous human papillomaviruses in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2012 Aug;21(8):1303-1313. Pubmedid: 22707711.
• Iannacone MR, Wang W, Stockwell HG, O'Rourke K, Giuliano AR, Sondak VK, Messina JL, Roetzheim RG, Cherpelis BS, Fenske NA, Michael KM, Waterboer T, Pawlita M, Rollison DE. Sunlight exposure and cutaneous human papillomavirus seroreactivity in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. J Infect Dis. 2012 Aug;206(3):399-406. Pubmedid: 22661119.
• Craig BM, Rollison DE, List AF, Cogle CR. Underreporting of myeloid malignancies by United States cancer registries. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2012 Jul;21(3):474-481. Pubmedid: 22237987. Pmcid: PMC3662977.
• Rollison DE, Cole AL, Tung KH, Slattery ML, Baumgartner KB, Byers T, Wolff RK, Giuliano AR. Vitamin D intake, vitamin D receptor polymorphisms, and breast cancer risk among women living in the southwestern U.S. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Jun;132(2):683-691. Pubmedid: 22130867. Pmcid: PMC3390020.
• Anic GM, Lee JH, Villa LL, Lazcano-Ponce E, Gage C, José C Silva R, Baggio ML, Quiterio M, Salmerón J, Papenfuss MR, Abrahamsen M, Stockwell H, Rollison DE, Wu Y, Giuliano AR. Risk factors for incident condyloma in a multinational cohort of men: the HIM study. J Infect Dis. 2012 Mar;205(5):789-793. Pubmedid: 22238467. Pmcid: PMC3274369.
• Rollison DE, Iannacone MR, Messina JL, Glass LF, Giuliano AR, Roetzheim RG, Cherpelis BS, Fenske NA, Jonathan KA, Sondak VK. Case-control study of smoking and non-melanoma skin cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 2012 Feb;23(2):245-254. Pubmedid: 22101452.
• Viscidi RP, Rollison DE, Sondak VK, Silver B, Messina JL, Giuliano AR, Fulp W, Ajidahun A, Rivanera D. Age-specific seroprevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus, BK virus, and JC virus. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2012 Jan;18(10):1737-1743. Pubmedid: 21880855. Pmcid: PMC3187023.
• Rollison DE, Giuliano AR, Messina JL, Fenske NA, Cherpelis BS, Sondak VK, Roetzheim RG, Iannacone MR, Michael KM, Gheit T, Waterboer T, Tommasino M, Pawlita M. Case-control Study of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2012 Jan;21(1):74-81. Pubmedid: 22016472.
• Iannacone MR, Wang W, Stockwell HG, O'Rourke K, Giuliano AR, Sondak VK, Messina JL, Roetzheim RG, Cherpelis BS, Fenske NA, Rollison DE. Patterns and timing of sunlight exposure and risk of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin - a case-control study. BMC Cancer. 2012;12(1):417. Pubmedid: 22994655.
• Anic GM, Lee JH, Stockwell H, Rollison DE, Wu Y, Papenfuss MR, Villa LL, Lazcano-Ponce E, Gage C, Silva RJ, Baggio ML, Quiterio M, Salmerón J, Abrahamsen M, Giuliano AR. Incidence and human papillomavirus (HPV) type distribution of genital warts in a multinational cohort of men: the HPV in men study. J Infect Dis. 2011 Dec;204(12):1886-1892. Pubmedid: 22013227. Pmcid: PMC3209812.
• Craig BM, Rollison DE, List AF, Cogle CR. Diagnostic testing, treatment, cost of care, and survival among registered and non-registered patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Leuk Res. 2011 Dec;35(11):1453-1456. Pubmedid: 21851978. Pmcid: PMC3191243.
• Key TJ, Appleby PN, Reeves GK, Roddam AW, Helzlsouer KJ, Alberg AJ, Rollison DE, Dorgan JF, Brinton LA, Overvad K, Kaaks R, Trichopoulou A, Clavel-Chapelon F, Panico S, Duell EJ, Peeters PH, Rinaldi S, Fentiman IS, Dowsett M, Manjer J, Lenner P, Hallmans G, Baglietto L, English DR, Giles GG, Hopper JL, Severi G, Morris HA, Hankinson SE, Tworoger SS, Koenig K, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Arslan AA, Toniolo P, Shore RE, Krogh V, Micheli A, Berrino F, Barrett-Connor E, Laughlin GA, Kabuto M, Akiba S, Stevens RG, Neriishi K, Land CE, Cauley JA, Lui LY, Cummings SR, Gunter MJ, Rohan TE, Strickler HD. Circulating sex hormones and breast cancer risk factors in postmenopausal women: reanalysis of 13 studies. Br J Cancer. 2011 Nov;105(5):709-722. Pubmedid: 21772329. Pmcid: PMC3188939.
• Cogle CR, Craig BM, Rollison DE, List AF. Incidence of the myelodysplastic syndromes using a novel claims-based algorithm: high number of uncaptured cases by cancer registries. Blood. 2011 Sep;117(26):7121-7125. Pubmedid: 21531980. Pmcid: PMC3143554.
• Rollison DE, Epling-Burnette PK, Park JY, Lee JH, Park H, Jonathan K, Cole AL, Painter JS, Guerrier M, Meléndez-Santiago J, Fulp W, Komrokji R, Lancet J, List AF. Telomere length in myelodysplastic syndromes. Leuk Lymphoma. 2011 Aug;52(8):1528-1536. Pubmedid: 21635204.
• Heine JJ, Cao K, Rollison DE. Calibrated measures for breast density estimation. Acad Radiol. 2011 Aug;18(5):547-555. Pubmedid: 21371912. Pmcid: PMC3073034.
• Komrokji RS, Al Ali NH, Beg MS, Safa MM, Rollison D, Kharfan-Dabaja M, Bello C, Cultrera J, Sokol L, Pinilla-Ibarz J, Sotomayor EM. Outcome of diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma in the United States has improved over time but racial disparities remain: review of SEER data. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2011 Jun;11(3):257-260. Pubmedid: 21658652.
• Heine JJ, Cao K, Rollison DE, Tiffenberg G, Thomas JA. A quantitative description of the percentage of breast density measurement using full-field digital mammography. Acad Radiol. 2011 May;18(5):556-564. Pubmedid: 21474058. Pmcid: PMC3154681.
• Zager JS, Rollison DE, Messina J. Prognostication in Merkel cell carcinoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2011 May;11(5):665-667. Pubmedid: 21554038.
• Giuliano AR, Lee JH, Fulp W, Villa LL, Lazcano E, Papenfuss MR, Abrahamsen M, Salmeron J, Anic GM, Rollison DE, Smith D. Incidence and clearance of genital human papillomavirus infection in men (HIM): a cohort study. Lancet. 2011 Mar;377(9769):932-940. Pubmedid: 21367446. Pmcid: PMC3231998.
• Rollison DE. JC virus infection: a cause of colorectal cancer?. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2010 Aug;44(7):466-468. Pubmedid: 20520564. Pmcid: PMC2905493.
• Rollison DE, Giuliano AR, Becker JC. New virus associated with merkel cell carcinoma development. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2010 Aug;8(8):874-880. Pubmedid: 20870633.
• Hines LM, Risendal B, Slattery ML, Baumgartner KB, Giuliano AR, Sweeney C, Rollison DE, Byers T. Comparative analysis of breast cancer risk factors among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. Cancer. 2010 Jul;116(13):3215-3223. Pubmedid: 20564638. Pmcid: PMC2922031.
• Rollison DE, Giuliano AR, Risendal BC, Sweeney C, Boulware D, Laronga C, Baumgartner KB, Byers T, Slattery ML. Serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF binding protein-3 in relation to breast cancer among Hispanic and white, non-Hispanic women in the US Southwest. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Jun;121(3):661-669. Pubmedid: 19888649.
• Iannacone MR, Michael KM, Giuliano AR, Waterboer T, Pawlita M, Rollison DE. Risk factors for cutaneous human papillomavirus seroreactivity among patients undergoing skin cancer screening in Florida. J Infect Dis. 2010 Mar;201(5):760-769. Pubmedid: 20105078.
• Agelli M, Clegg LX, Becker JC, Rollison DE. The etiology and epidemiology of merkel cell carcinoma. Curr Probl Cancer. 2010 Jan-Feb;34(1):14-37. Pubmedid: 20371072.
• Komrokji RS, Matacia-Murphy GM, Al Ali NH, Beg MS, Safa MM, Rollison DE, List AF. Outcome of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes in the Veterans Administration population. Leuk Res. 2010 Jan;34(1):59-62. Pubmedid: 19368972.
• Patel NR, Rollison DE, Barnholtz-Sloan J, Mackinnon J, Green L, Giuliano AR. Racial and ethnic disparities in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer in Florida. Cancer. 2009 Sep;115(17):3991-4000. Pubmedid: 19544552.
• Barnholtz-Sloan J, Patel N, Rollison D, Kortepeter K, Mackinnon J, Giuliano A. Incidence trends of invasive cervical cancer in the United States by combined race and ethnicity. Cancer Causes Control. 2009 Sep;20(7):1129-1138. Pubmedid: 19253025.
• Zou JX, Rollison DE, Boulware D, Chen DT, Sloand EM, Pfannes LV, Goronzy JJ, Bai F, Painter JS, Wei S, Cosgrove D, List AF, Epling-Burnette PK. Altered naive and memory CD4+ T-cell homeostasis and immunosenescence characterize younger patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Leukemia. 2009 Aug;23(7):1288-1296. Pubmedid: 19282834. Pmcid: PMC3252820.
• Rollison DE, Helzlsouer KJ, Lee JH, Fulp W, Clipp S, Hoffman-Bolton JA, Giuliano AR, Platz EA, Viscidi RP. Prospective study of JC virus seroreactivity and the development of colorectal cancers and adenomas. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Jun;18(5):1515-1523. Pubmedid: 19383887. Pmcid: PMC2743003.
• Rollison DE, Brownson RC, Hathcock HL, Newschaffer CJ. Case-control study of tobacco smoke exposure and breast cancer risk in Delaware. BMC Cancer. 2009 Feb;8:157. Pubmedid: 18518960. Pmcid: PMC2424067.
• Rollison D, Pawlita M, Giuliano A, Iannacone M, Sondak V, Messina J, Cruse C, Fenske N, Glass L, Kienstra M, Michael K, Waterboer T, Gheit T, Tommasino M. Measures of cutaneous human papillomavirus infection in normal tissues as biomarkers of HPV in corresponding nonmelanoma skin cancers. Int J Cancer. 2008 Nov;123(10):2337-2342. Pubmedid: 18729188.
• Rollison D, Howlader N, Smith M, Strom S, Merritt W, Ries L, Edwards B, List A. Epidemiology of Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders in the United States, 2001-2004: Utilizing Data from the NAACCR and SEER Programs. Blood. 2008 Jul;112(1):45-52. Pubmedid: 18443215.
• Rollison DE, Giuliano AR, Sellers TA, Laronga C, Sweeney C, Risendal B, Baumgartner KB, Byers T, Slattery ML. Population-based case-control study of diabetes and breast cancer risk in Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women living in US southwestern states. Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Apr;167(4):447-456. Pubmedid: 18033764. Pmcid: PMC2925515.
• Burnette PK, Bai F, Painter JS, Rollison DE, Salih HR, Krusch M, ZouJ, Ku E, Zhong B, Boulware D, Moscinski L, Wei S, Djeu JY, List AF. Reduced natural killer (NK) function associated with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and reduced expression of activating NK receptors. Blood. 2007 Jun;109(11):4816-4824. Pubmedid: 17341666.
• Epling-Burnette PK, Painter JS, Rollison DE, Ku E, Vendron D, Widen R, Boulware D, Zou JX, Bai F, List AF. Prevalence and clinical association of clonal T-cell expansions in Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Leukemia. 2007 Apr;21(4):659-667. Pubmedid: 17301813.
• Rollison DE, Sexton WJ, Rodriguez AR, Kang LC, Daniel R, Shah KV. Lack of BK virus DNA sequences in most transitional-cell carcinomas of the bladder. Int J Cancer. 2007 Mar;120(6):1248-1251. Pubmedid: 17192899.
• Rollison D, Helzlsouer K, Pinney S. Personal hair dye use and cancer: a systematic literature review and evaluation of exposure assessment in studies published since 1992. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2006 Sep;9(5):413-439. Pubmedid: 17492526.
• Rollison D, Engels E, Halsey N, Shah K, Viscidi R, Helzlsouer K. Prediagnostic circulating antibodies to JC and BK human polyomaviruses and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2006 Mar;15(3):543-550. Pubmedid: 16537714.
• Rollison D, Newschaffer C, Tao Y, Pollak M, Helzlsouer K. Premenopausal levels of circulating insulin-like growth factor I and the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Int J Cancer. 2006 Mar;118(5):1279-1284. Pubmedid: 16161053.
• Rollison D. Epidemiologic studies of polyomaviruses and cancer: previous findings, methodologic challenges and future directions. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2006;577:342-356. Pubmedid: 16626047.
• Engels E, Rollison D, Hartge P, Baris D, Cerhan J, Severson R, Cozen W, Davis S, Biggar R, Goedert J, Viscidi R. Antibodies to JC and BK viruses among persons with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Int J Cancer. 2005 Dec;117(6):1013-1019. Pubmedid: 15986438.
• Rollison D, Helzlsouer K, Halsey N, Shah K, Viscidi R. Markers of past infection with simian virus 40 (SV40) and risk of incident non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a Maryland cohort. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005 Jun;14(6):1448-1452. Pubmedid: 15941954.
• Rollison D, Utaipat U, Ryschkewitsch C, Hou J, Goldthwaite P, Daniel R, Helzlsouer K, Burger P, Shah K, Major E. An investigation of human brain tumors for the presence of polyomavirus genome sequences by two independent laboratories. Int J Cancer. 2005 Feb;113(5):769-774. Pubmedid: 15499616.
• Rollison D, Shah K, Major E. Response from authors: Re: Investigation of human brain tumors for the presence of polyomavirus genome sequences by two independent laboratories. Int J Cancer. 2005;117(4):695-696. Pubmedid: 15912535.
• Rollison D, Helzlsouer K. Processed meat consumption and adult gliomas in a Maryland cohort. Cancer Causes Control. 2004;15(1):99-100. Pubmedid: 15049327.
• Rollison D, Page W, Crawford H, Gridley G, Wacholder S, Martin J, Engels E. Case-control study of cancer among US Army recruits exposed to simian virus 40-contaminated adenovirus vaccine. Am J Epidemiol. 2004;160(4):317-324. Pubmedid: 15286016.
• Viscidi RP, Rollison DE, Viscidi E, Clayman B, Rubalcaba E, Daniel R, Major EO, Shah KV. Serological cross-reactivities between antibodies to simian virus 40, BK virus, and JC virus assessed by virus-like-particle-based enzyme immunoassays. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2003 Mar;10(2):278-285. Pubmedid: 12626455. Pmcid: PMC150538.
• Rollison D, Helzlsouer K, Alberg A, Hoffman S, Hou J, Daniel R, Shah K, Major E. Serum antibodies to JC virus, BK virus, simian virus 40, and the risk of incident adult astrocytic brain tumors. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003;12(5):460-463. Pubmedid: 12750243.
• Shah K, Rollison D. Investigation of the SV40--human cancer association: look for the full signature of the virus. Dis Markers. 2001;17(3):159-161. Pubmedid: 11790881.
• Fenstermacher DA, Wenham RM, Rollison DE, Dalton WS. Implementing personalized medicine in a cancer center. Cancer J. 17(6):528-536. Pubmedid: 22157297. Pmcid: PMC3240816.