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Molecular Study of Thyroid Cancer in World Trade Center Responders

Author

Listed:
  • Maaike A. G. van Gerwen

    (Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Stephanie Tuminello

    (Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Gregory J. Riggins

    (Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA)

  • Thais B. Mendes

    (Division of Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil)

  • Michael Donovan

    (Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Emma K.T. Benn

    (Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Center for Biostatistics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Eric Genden

    (Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Janete M. Cerutti

    (Division of Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil)

  • Emanuela Taioli

    (Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
    Department of Thoracic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
    Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

Abstract

Thyroid cancer incidence is higher in World Trade Center (WTC) responders compared with the general population. It is unclear whether this excess in thyroid cancer is associated with WTC-related exposures or if instead there is an over-diagnosis of malignant thyroid cancer among WTC first responders due to enhanced surveillance and physician bias. To maximize diagnostic yield and determine the false positive rate for malignancy, the histological diagnoses of thyroid cancer tumors from WTC responders and age, gender, and histology matched non-WTC thyroid cancer cases were evaluated using biomarkers of malignancy. Using a highly accurate panel of four biomarkers that are able to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid cancer, our results suggest that over-diagnosis by virtue of misdiagnosis of a benign tumor as malignant does not explain the increased incidence of thyroid cancer observed in WTC responders. Therefore, rather than over-diagnosis due to physician bias, the yearly screening visits by the World Trade Center Health Program are identifying true cases of thyroid cancer. Continuing regular screening of this cohort is thus warranted.

Suggested Citation

  • Maaike A. G. van Gerwen & Stephanie Tuminello & Gregory J. Riggins & Thais B. Mendes & Michael Donovan & Emma K.T. Benn & Eric Genden & Janete M. Cerutti & Emanuela Taioli, 2019. "Molecular Study of Thyroid Cancer in World Trade Center Responders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-7, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1600-:d:228929
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephanie Tuminello & Maaike A. G. van Gerwen & Eric Genden & Michael Crane & Wil Lieberman-Cribbin & Emanuela Taioli, 2019. "Increased Incidence of Thyroid Cancer among World Trade Center First Responders: A Descriptive Epidemiological Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-8, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert M. Brackbill & Judith M. Graber & William A. (Allen) Robison, 2019. "Editorial for “Long-Term Health Effects of the 9/11 Disaster” in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-6, September.
    2. Albeliz Santiago-Colón & Robert Daniels & Dori Reissman & Kristi Anderson & Geoffrey Calvert & Alexis Caplan & Tania Carreón & Alan Katruska & Travis Kubale & Ruiling Liu & Rhonda Nembhard & W. Allen , 2020. "World Trade Center Health Program: First Decade of Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-25, October.

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