Relationship between low serum immunoglobulin E levels and malignancies in 9/11 World Trade Center responders.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ferastraoaru D ; Goldfarb DG ; Hall CB ; Mueller AK ; Prezant DJ ; Rosenstreich D ; Schwartz T ; Weiden MD ; Zeig-Owens R
• Description:
  Background: Individuals with very low immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels have a high risk of developing malignancy. Previous studies have revealed that World Trade Center (WTC) responders exposed to carcinogens have an elevated risk of some cancers. Objective: To evaluate the association between low-serum IgE levels and cancer development in WTC-exposed responders. Methods: IgE levels were measured in 1851 WTC responders after September 11, 2001. This is the first pilot study in humans comparing the odds of developing cancer in this high-risk population, between the "low-IgE" (IgE in the lowest third percentile) vs "non-low-IgE" participants. Results: A significantly higher proportion of hematologic malignancies was found in low-IgE (4/55, 7.3%) compared with non-low-IgE (26/1796, 1.5%, P < .01) responders. The proportion of solid tumors were similar in both groups (5.5% vs 11.4%, P > .05). After adjustment for relevant confounders (race, sex, age at blood draw, WTC arrival time, smoking status), the low-IgE participants had 7.81 times greater odds (95% confidence interval, 1.77-29.35) of developing hematologic cancer when compared with non-low-IgE participants. The hematologic cancers found in this cohort were leukemia (n = 1), multiple myeloma (n = 1), and lymphoma (n = 2). No statistical significance was found when estimating the odds ratio for solid tumors in relation to IgE levels. Conclusion: WTC responders with low serum IgE levels had the highest odds of developing hematologic malignancies. This hypothesis-generating study suggests that low serum IgE levels might be associated with the development of specific malignancies in at-risk individuals exposed to carcinogens. Larger, multicenter studies with adequate follow-up of individuals with different IgE levels are needed to better evaluate this relationship. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Blood Cohort Studies Dust Emergency Responders Hematologic Tests Immune System Occupational Health Safety September 11 Terrorist Attacks
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: IgE; Low IgE; Malignancy; Malignancy Susceptibility; Carcinogens World Trade Center; WTC; Emergency Responders; Immunoglobulins; Hematology; Biomarkers; Blood Disorders; Hematopoietic System; Dust Exposure; Cohort Studies;
• ISSN:
  1081-1206
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  129
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065725
• Citation:
  Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2022 Dec; 129(6):769-775
• Contact Point Address:
  Denisa Ferastraoaru, MD, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine/Allergy-Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
• Email:
  dferastr@montefiore.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Performing Organization:
  New York City Fire Department
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20140701
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• End Date:
  20170630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9593e27015ce7bf06269051652ab0ca04c333c535dc30ecde09083c7841699f5ec4622d4baa32683c06d7a774c4f0d087de8eebf41132420bd9c6a2f644749be
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/249527/cdc_249527_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 715.85 KB ]