# Analytical capacity building for the study of tobacco carcinogen exposures in India

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $277,641

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Cancer risks associated with the use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products worldwide vary drastically. There is
a critical need to better understand SLT carcinogenesis, and which chemical constituents and/or product
characteristics drive the risk of cancer development in SLT users. India has a unique tobacco burden profile
and represents both an area of critical need and unique setting for such studies. Nearly one third of the
population in India is using various forms of SLT, exceeding the prevalence of smoking. This is accompanied
by high rates of oral and head and neck cancer (OHNC), which is strongly associated with SLT use and is a
leading cause of cancer-related death in India. The goal of our proposal is to investigate the relationship
between carcinogen content in SLT products and relevant exposures as well as OHNC risk in users of these
products, while concurrently building capacity for a sustainable tobacco carcinogenesis research program in
India. We will focus on the tobacco-specific nitrosamines N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-
(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). Our first aim will be to determine the variation of NNN
and NNK in SLT products currently available in Mumbai including a wide range of both manufactured and
cottage-made products. Our second aim will be to examine the relationship between NNN and NNK levels in
SLT products and the levels of corresponding biomarkers in users of these products. In this aim, we will assess
biomarkers of exposure in 300 users of SLT products with differing NNN and NNK content, as established in
Aim 1. In our third aim, we will compare levels of urinary NNN and NNK biomarkers between SLT users with
and without OHNC. Together, these studies we will generate important insights into the role of NNN and NNK
in SLT carcinogenesis in India. While substantial work has been carried out by the Indian public health
research and advocacy community to generate valuable knowledge on SLT use, perceptions, and
epidemiology, biomarker-based studies of tobacco carcinogen exposure and cancer risk have never been
conducted in India. Our research team is uniquely positioned to initiate this research, as it will leverage our
collaborative partnership with clinicians and scientists at Tata Memorial Hospital and its affiliated Advanced
Center for Training, Research and Education in Cancer in Mumbai. In addition to generating novel scientific
data, this study will incorporate capacity building activities that are closely linked to the Specific Aims and
include the development of analytical laboratory capacity, training of young investigators from Mumbai in
tobacco research procedures, and establishment of tobacco product and biospecimen repositories for future
research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9959528
- **Project number:** 5R01TW010651-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Pankaj Chaturvedi
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $277,641
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-22 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9959528

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9959528, Analytical capacity building for the study of tobacco carcinogen exposures in India (5R01TW010651-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9959528. Licensed CC0.

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