Aspirin Found to Decrease Stomach Cancer Risk

Aspirin users could be 36% less likely to get a type of stomach cancer, according to recent research.

In a study of over 300,000 people, the researchers found that people who had taken aspirin at least once in the previous year were considerably less likely to get noncardia gastric cancer (cancer of the middle or lower parts of the stomach). There was also a 32% reduction for the same type of stomach cancer in individuals who used other types of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

In contrast to results of previous studies, the researchers found that aspirin does not protect against esophageal cancer and cardia gastric cancer, which is cancer of the top of the stomach. Taking aspirin regularly has been found to cut the risk of bowel cancer, but it is not currently recommended because side effects could include bleeding within the abdomen.

Now, scientists believe that placebo-controlled trials, which would evaluate risks and benefits, should be conducted to see if NSAIDs could be used to protect against stomach and esophageal cancers. Five-year survival rates for these cancers are 15 and 8% in the United Kingdom, respectively, so research in how to prevent the disease is important.

Study author Dr. Christian Abnet, based at the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI; Rockville, MD, 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 esophageal or cardia stomach cancer, so it's important that we continue to review data that suggest otherwise. The number of people who survive at least five years following a diagnosis of stomach or esophageal cancer is low, so it's important to increase our understanding of ways to prevent the disease and to investigate aspirin as a possible preventative drug.”

The rate of non-cardia stomach cancer calculated in this study was 7 per 100,000 person-years for aspirin users, compared with 11 per 100,000 person-years for non-users. The figures were calculated from a study of more than 311,000 people in the United States and an analysis of 17 published studies on the topic.

Each year in the United Kingdom, approximately 8,000 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer, and about 5,250 people die from the disease. Dr. Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK (London), commented, "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.”

The study was published in the February 2009 issue of the British Journal of Cancer (BJC).

Related Links:
National Cancer Institute