# Myeloma Precursor Disease among WTC responders

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $492,618

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Hazardous materials including known and suspected carcinogens, were present at the World Trade Center
(WTC) disaster site.1,2 For example, some carcinogens present at the WTC disaster site have been found to be
associated with multiple myeloma and its precursor disease, in veterans of the Vietnam War exposed to Agent
Orange. Recently, in a screening study for multiple myeloma precursor disease, the prevalence of overall
monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) among WTC-exposed white male firefighters
was significantly greater than the general population (risk ratio [RR]=1.76; 95% CI=1.34, 2.29).3 This
association was particularly elevated in light-chain MGUS (RR=3.13; 95% CI=1.99, 4.93).3 Additionally, WTC-
exposed firefighters compared with the general population had higher proportions with light chain disease and
CD20 positive plasma cells, which are typically associated with poorer prognoses.3
In an effort to broaden current knowledge of the relationship between WTC exposure, MGUS and multiple
myeloma, we propose a collaborative effort between the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) and
General Responder Cohort at Stony Brook University (GRC-SBU) to conduct sensitive immunophenotyping to
detect MGUS by screening non-FDNY rescue-recovery workers and comparing results to determine if there
are differences between the two responder cohorts. We will then pool data from the two cohorts to generate a
global prevalence estimate for the entire WTC-exposed rescue-recovery population. By expanding MGUS
screening beyond white male firefighters, we will assess whether the association between WTC exposure and
MGUS applies to a more demographically heterogeneous population. Additionally, this will provide us with a
better understanding of the disease pathogenesis in participants exposed to the WTC disaster. Finally, an early
workup of MGUS can provide potentially disease-modifying therapeutic interventions. This study will allow us
to realize the NIOSH WTC Health Program's “Research to Care” translational model.
Specifically we aim to 1) To analyze the precursor state of multiple myeloma, MGUS, among WTC-exposed
GRC-SBU participants and to compare the prevalence among white males to WTC-exposed white male FDNY
firefighters; and 2) To compare the prevalence of MGUS among the combined WTC-exposed responder
cohorts (both FDNY and GRC-SBU) to published estimates in population-based studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10064268
- **Project number:** 1U01OH011869-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Carl Ola Landgren
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $492,618
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10064268

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10064268, Myeloma Precursor Disease among WTC responders (1U01OH011869-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10064268. Licensed CC0.

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