Alternate-Day, Low-Dose Aspirin and Cancer Risk
Authors: Peter M. Rothwell
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

EditorialsJuly 16, 2013Alternate-Day, Low-Dose Aspirin and Cancer RiskPeter M. Rothwell, MD, PhDPeter M. Rothwell, MD, PhDFrom University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-159-2-201307160-00013 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Most apparent medical discoveries are not subsequently confirmed, and reports of unexpected benefits of established treatments are particularly prone to being disproved. It is noteworthy, therefore, that the aspirin and cancer prevention story continues to stand up to testing, with the latest report from the Women's Health Study (WHS) in this issue (1) confirming previous observations and offering important new insights. During the 25 years since studies first suggested that regular aspirin use might prevent colorectal cancer, more than 150 case–control studies and about 50 cohort studies have reported consistent associations between regular aspirin use and substantially reduced risks for ...References1. Cook NR, Lee IM, Zhang SM, Moorthy MV, and Buring JE. Alternate-day, low-dose aspirin and cancer risk: long-term observational follow-up of a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159:77-85. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Algra AM and Rothwell PM. Effects of regular aspirin on long-term cancer incidence and metastasis: a systematic comparison of evidence from observational studies versus randomised trials. Lancet Oncol. 2012;13:518-27. [PMID: 22440112] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Cole BF, Logan RF, Halabi S, Benamouzig R, Sandler RS, Grainge MJ, et al. Aspirin for the chemoprevention of colorectal adenomas: meta-analysis of the randomized trials. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009;101:256-66. [PMID: 19211452] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Stürmer T, Glynn RJ, Lee IM, Manson JE, Buring JE, and Hennekens CH. Aspirin use and colorectal cancer: post-trial follow-up data from the Physicians' Health Study. Ann Intern Med. 1998;128:713-20 LinkGoogle Scholar5. Cook NR, Lee IM, Gaziano JM, Gordon D, Ridker PM, Manson JE, et al. Low-dose aspirin in the primary prevention of cancer: the Women's Health Study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005;294:47-55. [PMID: 15998890] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Flossmann E and Rothwell PM; British Doctors Aspirin Trial and the UK-TIA Aspirin Trial. Effect of aspirin on long-term risk of colorectal cancer: consistent evidence from randomised and observational studies. Lancet. 2007;369:1603-13. [PMID: 17499602] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Rothwell PM, Wilson M, Elwin CE, Norrving B, Algra A, Warlow CP, et al. Long-term effect of aspirin on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality: 20-year follow-up of five randomised trials. Lancet. 2010;376:1741-50. [PMID: 20970847] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Rothwell PM, Fowkes FG, Belch JF, Ogawa H, Warlow CP, and Meade TW. Effect of daily aspirin on long-term risk of death due to cancer: analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials. Lancet. 2011;377:31-41. [PMID: 21144578] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Rothwell PM, Wilson M, Price JF, Belch JF, Meade TW, and Mehta Z. Effect of daily aspirin on risk of cancer metastasis: a study of incident cancers during randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2012;379:1591-601. [PMID: 22440947] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Rothwell PM, Price JF, Fowkes FG, Zanchetti A, Roncaglioni MC, Tognoni G, et al. Short-term effects of daily aspirin on cancer incidence, mortality, and non-vascular death: analysis of the time course of risks and benefits in 51 randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2012;379:1602-12. [PMID: 22440946] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M13-1272.Corresponding Author: Peter M. Rothwell, MD, PhD, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAlternate-Day, Low-Dose Aspirin and Cancer Risk: Long-Term Observational Follow-up of a Randomized Trial Nancy R. Cook , I-Min Lee , Shumin M. Zhang , M. Vinayaga Moorthy , and Julie E. Buring Metrics July 16, 2013Volume 159, Issue 2Page: 148-150KeywordsAdenocarcinomaAdenomasCancer preventionCancer risk factorsCancer treatmentCohort studiesColonColonoscopyColorectal cancerGastrointestinal cancersHemorrhageLung and intrathoracic tumorsMedical risk factorsObservational studiesObstetrics and gynecologyRectumRisk managementStomach ePublished: 16 July 2013 Issue Published: July 16, 2013 CopyrightCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...