World Trade Center Cancer Studies Currently in Progress

In the years since September 11th, numerous studies have been conducted concerning World Trade Center related cancers. This research is ongoing as scientists seek to better understand the long-term consequences of exposure to toxins at the site.

Here are just a few examples of studies currently in progress:

Incidence, Latency, and Survival of Cancer Following World Trade Center Exposure

“Combining follow-up from all three cohorts of World Trade Center (WTC) rescue/recovery workers, this study will update estimates of the effect of WTC-exposure on cancer incidence, study in detail the latency period between exposure and cancer incidence, and study the effect of WTC-exposure and other prognostic factors on survival after cancer diagnosis in this population. This research will add to the understanding of long-term consequences of WTC-exposure, inform surveillance efforts in future environmental disasters, will stimulate further research into environmental risk factors for cancer in this and other cohorts, and will stimulate future work that would maximize survival of cancer patients among WTC-exposed workers.”

The Principal Investigator is Charles B. Hall, PhD of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The study was funded in 2016 and is expected to take four years.

To learn more, see here.

Head and Neck Cancer in the World Trade Center Health Program Cohort; Elucidating Risk Factors to Reduce Incidence and Morbidity

“The study will investigate whether exposure to pollution from the World Trade Center (WTC) 9/11 attacks is associated with increased risk of head and neck cancer among WTC responders and remediation workers. It will further explore whether that exposure adds to known causes of head and neck cancer including tobacco and alcohol. The findings from this study will help to build the evidence base for developing recommendations for modifying risk factors for these devastating cancers among WTC responders, including tobacco and alcohol use.”

The Principal Investigator is Judith Graber, PhD, of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The study was funded in 2016 and is expected to be completed in two years.

To learn more, see here.

Early Detection of Hematologic Malignancies in New York City Firefighters Exposed to World Trade Center Dust after the 9/11 Attacks

“The overall goal of this project is early detection of blood cancers using a large repository of blood and serum samples from firefighters exposed to the WTC disaster. Specifically, we will use proteomic analysis, flow cytometry and genomic sequencing to detect early signs of myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes in these cases, to enable potentially disease altering therapeutic interventions for these cancers.”

The Principal Investigator is Amit Verma, MD of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The study was funded in 2017 and is expected to be completed in three years.

To learn more, see here.

For information on additional medical studies, see our list of Peer-Reviewed Articles About World Trade Center Medical Issues.

The deadline for filing a Victim Compensation Fund claim is December 18, 2020. If you need assistance with submitting your claim, reach out to Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo at (800) 962-9954 and via SPBMCC’s contact page.

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