An international initiative studies radiation effects
The explosion and fire in the graphite core of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant released some 1 019 Becquerel of radioisotopes, many of which were iodine (I). A large rise in the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in children living in the regions exposed to the highest levels of fallout has been seen. Initiated in 1998, the CTB contains a large number of samples of thyroid tumours from children who were below 19 years of age when exposed to significant fallout. As a valid control group, the Bank contains samples of thyroid tumours from those living in the exposed areas but born after the radioactive iodine had decayed. The aim of the project 'The Chernobyl Tissue Bank - coordinating international research on radiation-induced thyroid cancer' (CTB) was to provide an unparalleled resource to study the effects of the Chernobyl accident. The CTB now holds samples of blood, tumour, normal tissue and, where possible, metastatic tissue from post-operative specimens. Nucleic acid from these specimens, patient sera, whole blood samples and DNA extracted from blood are also housed in the bank. Such a comprehensive range of genetic material and tissue is enabling the study of the interaction of genetic components with variables such as hormonal/immunological environment. Researchers are also able to look for molecular markers using different techniques. Biospecimens from the CTB have been provided to major research groups in Europe, Japan and the United States that are studying the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Researchers are asked to return their results to enable research data from individual samples and patients to be collated together. Studies of samples from the CTB are shedding light on how the environment, genetics and physiology all interact to alter tumour development in exposed populations. Comprehensive and prolonged study of the population exposed to radiation in childhood from the Chernobyl accident will provide a better understanding of the risks of radiation exposure.