Daily Aspirin Linked To Lower Colon Cancer Risk
Research has long established that a daily low-dose aspirin regimen can help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Recent studies indicate that this benefit is particularly pronounced for individuals with higher risk factors for the disease.
Dr. Daniel Sikavi, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and lead author of the study, noted that aspirin appears to significantly lower the elevated risk of colorectal cancer in those with multiple risk factors. Aspirin is believed to work by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory substances called prostaglandins, which are linked to tumor growth. However, Dr. Andrew Chan, co-senior author of the study, suggests that aspirin may prevent colorectal cancer through several mechanisms.
The role of daily aspirin in cancer prevention has been debated. Initially, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended low-dose aspirin to prevent both heart disease and colon cancer. However, in 2016, the task force revised its guidance, citing concerns that the risks of long-term aspirin use, such as bleeding, outweighed the benefits.
To explore whether daily aspirin might be more beneficial for certain individuals, Sikavi’s team analyzed data from nearly 108,000 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Participants, averaging around 49 years old at the start, were divided based on their aspirin use and lifestyle. Regular aspirin use was defined as taking either two or more standard doses (325 mg) per week or a daily low dose (81 mg).
The study found that over a decade, about 2% of those who regularly used aspirin developed colon cancer, compared to nearly 3% among non-users. The benefit of aspirin was more pronounced among individuals with less healthy lifestyles, where 2.12% of regular users developed colon cancer versus 3.4% of non-users. Conversely, among those with healthier lifestyles, aspirin had a smaller impact, with 1.5% of regular users developing cancer compared to 1.6% of non-users. This suggests that aspirin may be more effective in higher-risk populations.
The study did not track bleeding incidents, a known side effect of aspirin. The findings, published in JAMA Oncology on August 1, suggest that healthcare providers may consider recommending daily low-dose aspirin, particularly to those with less healthy lifestyles, for colon cancer prevention. Dr. Long Nguyen, a co-author, emphasized that daily low-dose aspirin is generally preferred over weekly higher doses.
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