Male breast cancer cases in the World Trade Center survivors

BACKGROUND: The collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers on September 11, 2001 resulted in an unprecedented environmental disaster that released carcinogenic particulates and chemicals. Exposure to these toxicants has been associated with increased cancer incidence among responders and community members. While female breast cancer has been characterized in this population, male breast cancer (MBC) remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic, clinical, and exposure characteristics of MBC cases among community members enrolled in the WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC). METHODS: Eligible participants included men with primary breast cancer who met WTC exposure criteria and provided informed consent from the WTC EHC as of December 31, 2024. Demographic, exposure, tumor characteristics and molecular subtypes were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Among 1,575 WTC EHC breast cancer cases, 22 were male, with 16 consented for the analysis. The median age at diagnosis was 64 years, with a median latency of 15.4 years post-9/11. Most tumors were ductal, moderately differentiated, early stage (I-II), and Luminal A. Most patients were Non-Hispanic White and overweight or obese. CONCLUSIONS: Although MBC is rare, its occurrence in an environmentally exposed civilian cohort highlights potential long-term effects of WTC-related toxicants and supports continued surveillance.