While the levels of 11 serum factors were elevated in ET and PV patients including VCAM-1, MMP-13, CXCL11, IL-1a, TIMP-1, PDGF-BB and P-selectin whose levels were more than 3-fold greater than the levels in healthy subjects, it is not likely that any of these factors can be used alone as a biomarker for MPD since none was elevated in all MPD patients. This evidence concerns the gene VCAM1 and acquired polycythemia vera.