NEJM: Aspirin Reduces Recurrence Risk for Colorectal Cancer
Aspirin, a universally recognized and widely used medication, has surprisingly demonstrated powerful anti-tumor properties. Recent research published in the prestigious journal The New England Journal of Medicine revealed that a daily low-dose (160 mg) regimen of this drug significantly lowers the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence by 55% in patients with specific genetic markers after surgical intervention.
This groundbreaking discovery stems from the large-scale ALASCCA clinical trial, which involved over 3,500 participants across 33 medical institutions in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland). Researchers particularly focused on a subgroup of patients whose tumors carried a mutation in the PIK3 signaling pathway genes, a characteristic found in approximately 40% of colorectal cancer cases. It was precisely in this specific subgroup that aspirin exhibited a pronounced protective effect, whereas no such benefit was observed in patients whose tumors lacked this mutation.
Experts believe aspirin`s mechanism of action is multifaceted: it reduces inflammatory processes, inhibits platelet activity, and creates an unfavorable environment for the development of cancer cells. These properties position it as a promising tool in personalized medicine, allowing for consideration of patients` unique genetic profiles.
Scientists emphasize the potentially global impact of these findings. Given aspirin`s widespread availability and significantly lower cost compared to current oncological drugs, there is a strong prospect for its inclusion in international clinical guidelines for colorectal cancer treatment.
Furthermore, earlier in March, it was established that aspirin is also effective in combating lung cancer: studies in mice showed a reduced frequency of metastasis when the drug was administered.
