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Posted on Apr 13, 2012, 6 a.m.
Regular aspirin use leads to significant reductions in the risk of cancer, metastasis, and cancer mortality, reports a meta-analysis involving more than 100,000 study subjects.
A number of studies contribute to the growing evidence base suggesting that daily aspirin can be used to help prevent and possibly treat cancer. Peter M Rothwell, from the University of Oxford of that United Kingdom), and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis covering 51 clinical trials and involving more than 100,000 study subjects. Overall, aspirin users had a 38% reduction in the risk of colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers, as compared to nonusers. Cancer mortality was 15% lower among regular use of aspirin. Cancer metastasis was 35 to 40% less common. The study authors conclude that: "aspirin use leads to significant reductions in the risk of cancer, metastasis, and cancer mortality.”
Peter M Rothwell, Jacqueline F Price, F Gerald R Fowkes, Alberto Zanchetti, Maria Carla Roncaglioni, Gianni Tognoni, et al. “Short-term effects of daily aspirin on cancer incidence, mortality, and non-vascular death: analysis of the time course of risks and benefits in 51 randomised controlled trials.” The Lancet, 21 March 2012.
