Aspirin may protect against stomach cancer
Friday February 6th, 2009
People who regularly take aspirin may be protecting themselves against one form of stomach cancer, researchers reported today.
Experts say more research will be needed before aspirin can be backed as a preventative measure - as there are also potential side-effects of taking too much aspirin regularly.
The researchers analysed figures from 311,115 people whose use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs had been documented over the previous 12 months.
Of the participants, 182 developed gastric non-cardia cancer (cancer of the middle or lower parts of the stomach), 178 developed gastric cardia cancer (cancer of the top of the stomach), and 228 developed oesophageal cancer.
Analysis showed that taking aspirin at least once in the previous year reduced the risk of gastric non-cardia cancer by about 36 per cent, while use of another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug cut the risk by about 32 per cent.
Neither drug had a significant link with gastric cardia cancer or oesophageal cancer. Writing in the British Journal of Cancer, the researchers say that regular aspirin use has also been linked to reduced risk of bowel cancer, but it is not currently recommended as it can cause bleeding in the abdomen.
Researcher Dr Christian Abnet of the National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA, said: "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 oesophageal or cardia stomach cancer, so it's important that we continue to review data that suggests otherwise.
"The number of people who survive at least five years following a diagnosis of stomach or oesophageal cancer is low, so it's important to increase our understanding of ways to prevent the disease."
Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, said: "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."
Abnet, C. C. et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of gastric and oesophageal adenocarcinomas: results from a cohort study and a meta-analysis. The British Journal of Cancer, Vol. 100, January 20, 2009, pp. 551-57.
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