Regular low-dose aspirin reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). This is evidenced by the results of two new studies.
Currently, the recommended use of aspirin to prevent colorectal cancer from age 50 to 69 with specific risk profiles of cardiovascular diseases. Questions about the effectiveness of aspirin in preventing other cancers remain open.
In the study by the Harvard school of public health named after T. H. Chan (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health), Women’s hospital Brigham (Brigham and Womens Hospital) and Moffitt Cancer center (Moffitt Cancer Center) analyzed data 205 498 women within two years of health studies of nurses (Nurses Health Study).
They compared the use of standard doses of aspirin (325 mg), low dose (100 mg) and NSAID without aspirin and acetaminophen, and also examined information on the number, frequency, timing and duration of the use of tablets. The results were published in Jama Oncology.
What really distinguishes this study from previous work, our ability to analyze low doses of aspirin separately from standard doses of aspirin. Our findings emphasize that research on the use of aspirin and cancer risk should take into account the dose of aspirin, said one of the lead authors of the study Molly Barnard (Barnard Mollie), now a postdoctoral fellow of the Institute for cancer research behalf of Huntsman at the University of Utah (Hantsman Cancer Institute at the University of Uta).
According to the findings, regular use (at least two doses per week) low dose aspirin 23% reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer (compared to those who did not). The use of aspirin in the standard dose, this effect is not given. It was also discovered that with long term heavy use neospirifer NSAIDs increases the risk of ovarian cancer by 19%.
Many people take a low dose aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, said Dr. of philosophy Shelly Tworoger (Shelly Tworoger) from the Cancer center Moffitt. It is necessary to conduct additional studies to find which women can benefit most from receiving a low dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
According to a report by researchers from the Massachusetts General hospital (Massachusetts General Hospital) in Jama Oncology, regular use of aspirin significantly reduces the risk of developing liver cancer. A group of scientists reviewed the data (87 507 of 864 women and 45 men) for more than three decades, obtained in the research of health of nurses and the subsequent survey of medical professionals (Health Professionals Follow-up Study).
Regular intake of aspirin (two or more 325 mg tablets per week for five years or more) 49% reduces the relative risk of developing liver cancer, and receipt for five years or more 59%. The discontinuation resulted in a gradual decrease of the effect, which completely disappeared after eight years. Link between liver cancer and regular use of NSAIDs was found.
Prolonged use of aspirin may be necessary because primary liver cancer is increasing many years. Aspirin may act on the earliest stages of cancer or even precancerous stages, delaying or preventing inflammation or liver fibrosis, said Tracy Simon (by Simon). It is still too early to know whether the starting aspiranture to be an effective strategy for preventing HCC, efforts to understand the mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects can help identify immediate strategies for the prevention or biomarkers for cancer, which is a growing public health problem.
Victoria Seewaldt, Deputy Director of demographic research in the Comprehensive cancer center City of Hope (City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center), the suggested areas for future research: Two studies … able to start changing clinical practice; however, much remains to learn about the mechanism underlying the dose and duration of use of aspirin potential benefits of aspirin must be weighed against the risk of bleeding, especially in people with chronic liver disease. To achieve the promising ability of aspirin to prevent cancer a better understanding of the dose, duration and mechanism.
Valeria SEMA