Daily aspirin cuts colorectal cancer recurrence by 55%
Daily aspirin halves colorectal cancer recurrence in patients with specific gene variants.
Why it matters
- Aspirin is inexpensive and widely available, making it a promising treatment option.
- This could significantly improve health outcomes for many cancer survivors with specific gene variants.
By the numbers
- Study involved over 1,000 patients with specific gene variants.
- Aspirin reduced recurrence risk by 55% compared to placebo.
- 7.7% vs. 14.1%: 3-year recurrence rates with aspirin vs. placebo.
The big picture
- Aspirin is being used as a precision medicine treatment based on genetic information.
- The treatment could be particularly effective for genetically defined subgroups of patients.
What they're saying
- Patients need to know their gene variant status to consider this treatment.
- Experts note aspirin's multifaceted role in suppressing tumor growth but acknowledge that molecular mechanisms are not fully understood.
Caveats
- Benefit is specific to patients with certain genetic mutations.
- Exact molecular links are not yet fully understood.
What’s next
- Further research on aspirin's role in other cancers is ongoing.
- Potential clinical recommendations for cancer survivors with these genetic mutations.