Aspirin Halves Bowel Cancer Relapse Risk
- A new study published in the new England Journal of Medicine demonstrates that a low daily dose of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) substantially reduces the risk of cancer relapse...
- Colon and rectal cancers are serious,with approximately 30% of those diagnosed dying within five years,according to background details in the article.
- The research involved 3,500 patients diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer across 33 hospitals in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and finland.
Aspirin Shown to Halve Relapse Risk in Colon and Rectal Cancer patients wiht Specific Genetic Marker
Table of Contents
Key Findings
A new study published in the new England Journal of Medicine demonstrates that a low daily dose of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) substantially reduces the risk of cancer relapse in patients with colon or rectal cancer who possess a specific genetic mutation. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute found that the drug lowered the relapse risk by 55% compared to a placebo group.
Colon and rectal cancers are serious,with approximately 30% of those diagnosed dying within five years,according to background details in the article. While surgery remains the primary treatment, the risk of recurrence is substantial.
Study Details
The research involved 3,500 patients diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer across 33 hospitals in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and finland. The study focused on patients whose tumors exhibited a particular gene change, present in 40% of the participant pool. These patients were randomly assigned to receive either 160 milligrams of acetylsalicylic acid daily or a placebo for three years following surgery.
Acetylsalicylic acid is the active ingredient in common pain relievers such as Treo and Bamyl, and was previously found in the now-discontinued medications Magnecyl and Albyl.
Building on Previous Research
Prior research had suggested a potential link between acetylsalicylic acid and reduced cancer risk, as well as a possible decrease in relapse rates among colon and rectal cancer patients with specific tumor mutations. This latest study provides stronger evidence supporting those earlier findings.
Understanding the Mechanism
while the exact reasons for acetylsalicylic acid’s protective effect remain unclear, researchers believe a biological basis exists for its efficacy in this genetically defined patient subgroup. Anna Martling, a researcher involved in the study, stated in a press release from the Karolinska Institute that the findings “provide strong support for the biological background to be reasonable and that the treatment can be particularly effective in genetically defined subgroups of patients.”