People affected by Lynch syndrome have a heightened danger of many cancers including that of the stomach, colon, brain, skin, and prostate. Women, who suffer from this syndrome, possess a high risk of developing endometrial and ovarian cancers.
John Burn presented his findings at the ECCO-ESMO European cancer congress in Berlin.
He was quoted as saying, “We believe that aspirin may have an effect on the survival of aberrant (faulty) stem cells in the colon.”
Research study details
For carrying out the research, Burn and his colleagues tested 1,071 people with Lynch syndrome. The researchers gave some people an aspirin and some a fake pill or a placebo.
After 10 years, it was discovered that although there was no difference in cancer rates after 29 months, a major difference was seen after four years, with lesser people in the aspirin group developing colon cancer, Burn said.
He further added, “To date, there have been only six colon cancers in the aspirin group as opposed to 16 who took placebo. There is also a reduction in endometrial cancer.”
Burn also noted that even though people who were a part of the trial stopped taking aspirin, its effect visibly continued.
Aspirin is a useful drug
Aspirin, originally developed by Bayer, is an inexpensive over-the-counter drug which, if taken in low daily doses has been found to ward off the risk of heart attacks and strokes, apart from helping ease out occasional aches and pains.
Some studies have also shown that it can decrease the risk of developing colon cancer by obstructing the enzyme cyclooxygenase2, or COX-2, which leads to inflammation and cell division and is found in high levels in tumours.
But Burn does not agree to this and said that he thinks that aspirin strikes faulty stem cells before they metamorphose into pre-cancerous cells. He said, “If aspirin reduced the chances of such cells surviving, this would explain our results.”
Even though aspirin has been found to be beneficial, it can cause stomach upsets. In the latest study too, 11 patients on aspirin had stomach bleeds or ulcers as compared to nine on placebo.
The present study team is going to conduct a more elaborate study on a larger group of patients taking varying doses of aspirin in order to come to some concrete results.
Post new comment