Aspirin May Lower Cancer Risk
· According to an article in the journal Lancet, Aspirin and other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs 
(NSAIDs) may prevent certain forms of cancer.
· The authors of this review article report on multiple previous studies showing protection against certain forms of cancer and aspirin use. Due to ethical constraints, there are no long-term randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials on aspirin use and prevention of cancer.
· The current evidence of a reduction in cancer with aspirin use comes from studies of aspirin that were designed to test vascular protection, heart disease and stroke.
· The authors of this article summarized the evidence from previous published studies supporting the potential benefit of aspirin in cancer prevention.
These trials include:
· The Physicians’ Health Study, which showed a relative risk reduction for developing colorectal cancer in the aspirin group, compared with the placebo group.
· A British study of 5,000 male doctors showed that after six years, cancer deaths were 18% lower in the aspirin-treated group.
· The Nurses’ Health Study of almost 80,000 American women, showing a 12% reduction in cancer deaths with aspirin use.
· Cancer Prevention Study II showed a significant reduction in overall cancer for men only, a reduction in colon and prostate cancer, and a nonsignificant reduction in breast cancer.
· There are 20 other observational studies that have found that NSAIDs appear to offer a degree of protection against breast cancer and might be of benefit to women with cancer. Some benefit has also been observed for both gastric and esophageal cancers.
· The dose and duration of aspirin needed for a protective effect against cancer is not known.
· The information from these studies is observational and many variables cannot be analyzed, which complicates conclusions made by the authors.
· The authors also point out that there are differing viewpoints within the medical community as to whether or not patients at a high risk for cancer should be advised to use prophylactic aspirin.
Reference
The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 27 March 2009
Posted on April 1, 2009
