# Biomarker phenotypes of air pollution and cancer risk in India

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2021 · $303,224

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Chemical toxicants and carcinogens present in the polluted air are the likely causative agents in the associated
cancers of aerodigestive tract in exposed individuals. Understanding the relationship between the level of
exposure to these pollutants and the risk of cancer is key to identifying individuals or populations at risk and
informing the development of preventive measures. The overarching goal of this study is to advance such
understanding through a collaborative research between the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
and Centre for Cancer Epidemiology (CCE) in Mumbai, India. We will employ a panel of established and novel
air pollution-related biomarkers to test our overall hypothesis that the uptake of air pollution-related chemical
carcinogens is associated with the risk for LC and HNC in Indian nonsmokers. In Aims 1 and 2, we will conduct
case-control studies to assess the association of air pollution-related biomarkers in plasma with LC and HNC,
respectively, in Indian nonsmokers. To achieve the goals of these Aims, we will use available biological
samples and questionnaire data from the corresponding epidemiological cohorts conducted by the CCE. We
will develop capacity for biomarker measurements at CCE by transferring the U.S. team's expertise in this
area. In Aim 3, we will recruit healthy nonsmokers with various levels of usual exposures to air pollution, based
on their occupation or lifestyle. We will compare a panel of biomarkers of exposure and effect across the
groups and correlate to pollutant levels collected through personal air sampling devices worn by a subset of
participants. We will use specially designed air samplers to characterize the chemical profile of various air
pollution scenarios. This aim will aid in the interpretation of biomarker data generated in Aims 1 and 2, and will
inform future biomarker-based studies of air pollution in India. An important outcome of this study is the
development of capacity for future biomarker research of cancer risk in India using CCE cohorts. Such
research can be further expanded to other population subgroups (e.g., smokers or occupationally exposed
individuals) and additional environmental and dietary exposures in India.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10286264
- **Project number:** 1R01ES033220-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Rajesh Dikshit
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $303,224
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-23 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10286264

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10286264, Biomarker phenotypes of air pollution and cancer risk in India (1R01ES033220-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10286264. Licensed CC0.

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