Abstract: More than two decades after the 9/11 tragedy, scientists are uncovering new ways to understand its lingering health effects, through cells, not stories. The newly developed World Trade Center (WTC) Cancer Tissue Biobank is a groundbreaking resource that holds over 550 cancer tissue samples from WTC responders exposed to carcinogens at Ground Zero. Built from the contributions of firefighters, recovery workers, and cleanup crews, the biobank provides researchers with an invaluable tool to study how those toxic exposures translate into cancer risks and disease behavior at the molecular level.
The biobank includes a wide range of cancers, from prostate (39%) and thyroid (9.8%) to melanoma, lung, and breast cancers, offering an unmatched window into exposure-related oncogenesis. Each tissue sample is linked with detailed demographic and clinical data, empowering scientists to explore exposure signatures, cancer aggressiveness markers, and potential new pathways for prevention and treatment. As one of the most unique collections in oncology research, the WTC Cancer Tissue Biobank turns a historic tragedy into a scientific legacy, driving discoveries that could protect future generations from exposure-related cancers.
Click here to get the full article: update on the World Trade Center cancer tissue biobank: a scientific resource for molecular and mechanistic studies on WTC-related cancer | Carcinogenesis | Oxford Academic
