Taking aspirin may reduce cancer of the middle and lower stomach
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Posted on Feb 12, 2009, 11 a.m.
By gary clark
The rate of non-cardia stomach cancer was reduced by up to 33% in participants of a study conducted by the British Journal of Cancer. Yet oncologists say it's far too early to recommend aspirin as a preventive measure.
In a British Journal of Cancer study of 311,115 people followed for seven years, researchers founds that people who take aspirin or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are far less likely to develop cancer of the middle or lower stomach. Use of the painkillers was analyzed in the 12 months prior to the start of the study. In total, 73% used aspirin, while 56% reported using another NSAID at least once in those 12 months. Approximately 25% reported using aspirin daily, while 10% reported daily use of another NSAID.
The rate of non-cardia stomach cancer was seven per 100,000 person-years for those who used aspirin, compared to 11 per 100,000 person years for non-users. There was also a 32 per cent reduction for the same type of stomach cancer in people who used other types of NSAIDs. In contrast to results of previous studies, this study showed that aspirin does not have the same protection benefits against esophageal or cardia gastric cancer at the top of the stomach.
Lead Researcher Dr. Christian Abnet of the National Cancer Institute in America, says: "We found that the risk of non-cardia stomach cancer was lower in people who had taken aspirin, and this risk lowered the more regularly they took it. Interestingly, our results didn't show a significant cut in the risk of esophageal or cardia stomach cancer, so it's important that we continue to review data that suggests otherwise."
Further research needs to be conducted in order to evaluate the protective benefits of aspirin and other NSAIDs as compared to the risk of side effects, which can include bleeding in the abdomen. As Dr. Lesley Walker, Director of Cancer Information at Cancer Research UK, notes, "It's far too early to recommend that people take aspirin to protect themselves from these cancers. In cancers where survival is low, understanding how to prevent the disease is crucial, but more research is needed to discover how side effects can be balanced with the benefits. Cancer Research UK would urge people to speak to their doctor before taking aspirin regularly."
News Release: Aspirin cuts stomach cancer risk www.news.bbc.co.uk February 6, 2009
