Overall daily aspirin reduced the rate of cancer by 24%. The effect only became significant with long -term treatment of more than 5 years. In that group the rate of cancer was reduced by 37%. Additionally, death rates from cancer in aspirin-takers were 15% lower, and rates of metastasis were about 35% lower.
The researchers combined all studies in the literature looking at the effect of aspirin versus placebo on the incidence of cancer. In total 51 trials evaluating 75,000 patients were included in the results,
It was noted that the number of total cancers were too small to determine if there was any benefit for specific cancer types. Though bleeding risk was increased this effect reduced overtime, and overall benefit was greater than risk.
The authors concluded “prevention of cancer could become the main justification for aspirin use in (primary prevention), although more research is required to identify which individuals are likely to benefit most.”
Of note, a second study published in the same journal also showed that daily aspirin significantly reduced the likelihood of cancer metastasizing in patients who did get cancer. The authors suggest that because platelets play a role in metastasis to distant tissues, aspirin’s effect may be to change platelet dynamics. The authors reported that may explain why aspirin reduces cancer mortality.
References
1. Rothwell PM, Price JF, Fowkes FGR, 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. 2012 Mar 21. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Chan AT, Cook NR. Are we ready to recommend aspirin for cancer prevention? The Lancet. 2012 Mar 21. [Epub ahead of print]
3. http://extremelongevity.net/
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