An update on the World Trade Center cancer tissue biobank: a scientific resource for molecular and mechanistic studies on WTC-related cancer.

World Trade Center (WTC) responders were exposed to a complex mixture of toxins and carcinogens through dust, fumes, and smoke at ground zero. Since then, studies have indicated that WTC responders have elevated cancer rates compared with the general population. While studies have detailed the overarching connection between WTC exposure and cancer, a tissue biobank is needed to enable molecular and mechanistic studies on WTC-related cancers. The cohort includes responders involved in rescue, recovery, or cleanup enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) who consented to participate in research. Responders with cancer were identified through WTCHP certification. WTCHP provided data with patients' demographic information, contact details, and cancer diagnoses. Potential participants were contacted by mail, email, or phone for consent and procedure location. If consented, samples were requested from pathology departments. A biobank of cancer tissues from WTC responders has been established with 551 distinct primary cancers from 521 patients. Of these, prostate makes up 39.0%, thyroid 9.8%, melanoma 8.9%, kidney 6.5%, bladder 6.0%, colorectal 5.8%, breast 5.6%, lung 4.7%, head and neck 4.7%, and other cancers 9%. An additional 343 patients have consented for biobank projects and their samples are being requested. To date, we have created a valuable tissue biobank available to the scientific community for high-impact oncology studies in the unique population of WTC responders. By studying links between carcinogenic exposure and cancer sites, exposure signatures, and markers of cancer aggressiveness, this biobank offers an unprecedented opportunity to advance cancer research in an exposed population.