Study: Long-term Aspirin Cuts Colon Cancer Incidence, Mortality
Major Finding: Daily aspirin use cut the 20-year incidence of, and mortality from, colon cancer in patients by 24% and 35%, respectively, compared with control groups.
Data Source: From a 20-year follow-up of five pooled randomized trials involving more than 14,000 patients.
Disclosures: Dr. Rothwell and coauthor, Dr. Bo Norrving, reported receiving honoraria for giving talks and serving on advisory boards and clinical trial committees for AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi-BMS, and Servier – all of which have an interest in antiplatelet agents. Dr. Ale Agra reported receiving honoraria for serving on advisory boards and research funding from Boehringer Ingelheim. The remaining study authors reported having no disclosures.
FROM THE LANCET
Since the “very substantial” reduction in proximal colon cancers in patients on aspirin therapy in this study might be a result of an effect on aggressive non-polypoid or de novo cancers, which are often flat and can be easily missed on colonoscopy, it is probable that screening and aspirin therapy for preventing colorectal cancer will be synergistic, they concluded.
Dr. Rothwell and coauthor, Dr. Bo Norrving, reported receiving honoraria for giving talks and serving on advisory boards and clinical trial committees for AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi-BMS, and Servier – all of which have an interest in antiplatelet agents. Dr. Ale Agra reported receiving honoraria for serving on advisory boards and research funding from Boehringer Ingelheim. The remaining study authors reported having no disclosures.
