Characteristics of Women with Lung Adenocarcinoma in the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center

Abstract

The destruction of the World Trade Center towers on 11 September 2001 exposed local residents, workers, and individuals in the area (Survivors) to dust and fumes that included known and suspected carcinogens. Given the potential for inhalation of toxic substances and the long latency after exposure, the incidence of lung cancer is expected to increase in WTC-exposed individuals. We describe the characteristics of women WTC Survivors with lung adenocarcinoma who were enrolled in the WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) between May 2002 and July 2021. A total of 173 women in WTC EHC had a diagnosis of any type of lung cancer, representing 10% of all cancers in women. Most of the lung cancers (87%) were non-small cell carcinomas, with adenocarcinoma (77%) being the most common subtype. Nearly half (46%) of these patients were exposed to dust clouds on 11 September 2001. Race and ethnicity varied by smoking status, as follows: 44% of Asian women compared with 29% of non-Hispanic White women were never-smokers (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the pathologic characteristics of adenocarcinomas between never and ever smokers. We also summarize EGFR, ALK, KRAS, ROS-1 and BRAF mutation status stratified by smoking, race and ethnicity. The identification of a relatively high proportion of women never-smokers with lung cancer warrants further investigation into the role of WTC dust exposure.

Characteristics of Cancers in Community Members Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster at a Young Age

“…Several studies have now described the prevalence of cancer in WTC-exposed populations with a focus on responders [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Cancers in survivors have been described in the WTCHR, and we described cancer characteristics in the WTC EHC population [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. The exposure to 9/11 dust and fumes at a very young age has been associated with adverse health outcomes [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”