As India continues to grapple with worsening air quality, All India Institute of Medical Sciences is spearheading a landmark study that could fundamentally change how lung cancer is diagnosed, assessed, and treated in the country.

The AIRCARE study, led by Dr Abhishek Shankar along with a multidisciplinary team of experts, is not just another investigation into the harmful effects of pollution. At its core, the study is designed to bridge a critical gap in Indian healthcare—developing more accurate, evidence-based approaches for early diagnosis and personalised treatment of lung cancer.

For years, lung cancer has been strongly associated with tobacco use. However, doctors across India are increasingly seeing patients who have never smoked, yet present with advanced stages of the disease. This troubling shift has placed air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), under the spotlight as a major but insufficiently understood risk factor.

Dr Abhishek Shankar, who is leading the study, emphasized that the goal goes far beyond establishing a link. “We are not only trying to understand whether air pollution contributes to lung cancer, but how it shapes the biology of the disease in Indian patients. This study is about translating that understanding into better diagnostic pathways and more precise treatment strategies,” he said.

What makes the AIRCARE study particularly significant is its focus on integrating clinical data with molecular and genetic insights. By studying over 3,200 participants from similar exposure environments in the Delhi-NCR region, researchers aim to build a detailed picture of how long-term pollution exposure interacts with individual risk factors.

Dr Mayank Singh highlighted the importance of this approach, noting that current systems often fall short in identifying high-risk individuals early enough. “One of the biggest challenges in lung cancer care is late detection. Through this study, we are working toward a model that can identify those at highest risk much earlier, using both clinical indicators and molecular signatures. This has the potential to change how we screen, diagnose, and ultimately treat lung cancer in India,” he explained.

A crucial component of the research is the search for a population-specific genetic signature that could reveal how pollution-triggered changes at the cellular level evolve into cancer over time. Such findings could allow clinicians to detect disease earlier and tailor treatments more effectively, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach.

The implications are far-reaching. With lung cancer already among the most common cancers in India and a rising burden among non-smokers, the need for better assessment tools and targeted therapies has never been more urgent. The AIRCARE study aims to deliver exactly that—providing a scientific foundation for risk-based screening models and more informed clinical decision-making.

As Dr Shankar underscored, “If we can identify who is at risk earlier and understand the mechanisms driving their disease, we can intervene sooner and treat smarter. That is the real impact we are aiming for.”

In a country where millions are exposed to hazardous air every day, this study represents a critical step toward not just understanding lung cancer—but staying ahead of it.