Connecting individual-level environmental exposures to cancer-related outcomes in a shorter-lived natural model system

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Following a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3, 2023, more than 100,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals consisting of vinyl chloride and other carcinogens were released into the environment directly and through controlled burn. This disaster offers an unfortunate opportunity to explore the role of external environmental exposure assessments in cancer epidemiology. We propose to use companion dogs as a model system to investigate chemical exposures near the disaster site and correlations with cancer incidence. Dogs share both indoor and outdoor environments with their human caretakers and spontaneously acquire many of the same chronic diseases that occur in humans, including cancer. With their shorter lifespans and accelerated onset and progression of disease, large numbers of dogs can be recruited in a shorter time span and provide faster outcomes for longitudinal studies informing human health. In our parent R01, we are using dogs as a model system for enhancing blood biopsy technology to improve its accuracy and utility for helping to guide cancer care. We have developed and validated methods for detecting clonal hematopoiesis (a possible precursor to cancer) and cancer in dogs through blood biopsies. We also developed a community science platform for dog cancer research that includes a study of environmental passive samplers in dogs. Here, we propose to pair blood biopsy technology with passive environmental samplers to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of using dogs as environmental sentinels to monitor for health consequences resulting from the train derailment and chemical spill. We will: Aim 1: Evaluate the relationship between proximity to the train derailment, increases in chemical exposures to combustion products and health outcomes. Aim 2: Evaluate the relationship between TD-CP exposures and the occurrence of clonal hematopoiesis and cancer using blood biopsies. This collaborative research effort will evaluate the utility of capturing individual-level environmental exposure information in cancer epidemiology.