AI Tool ‘Sybil’ Predicts Lung Cancer Risk in Non-Smoking Asian Women

San Francisco:A groundbreaking study from the **University of California, San Francisco** has revealed that **nearly half of all women worldwide diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked**, challenging long-held assumptions about the disease’s causes.

Among **Asian-American women**, the figures are even more alarming — **57% of those with lung cancer have never touched a cigarette**. The study highlights a growing concern: **lung cancer cases among young East Asian women are increasing by about 2% annually**, despite declining smoking rates globally.

Researchers now believe **environmental and genetic factors**, rather than smoking, may be responsible. One key suspect is **damage to the EGFR gene**, which codes for a protein critical to cell growth. This damage could result from **exposure to environmental toxins**, such as **second-hand smoke**, and **cooking fumes in poorly ventilated kitchens**.

To address this emerging health crisis, scientists have introduced **an AI tool named “Sybil”**, which can **predict lung cancer risk in individuals who have never smoked**. This AI model uses health data to detect subtle patterns that might indicate future cancer risk — potentially enabling **earlier diagnosis and prevention strategies**, especially for vulnerable populations.

The findings underscore the need for **greater awareness of non-smoking-related lung cancer risks**, especially in **Asian communities**, and the potential of **AI in revolutionizing early detection and personalized medicine**.