New research reveals that Aspirin helps increase the survival rate in cancer patients. Here’s what the study reveals.
Aspirin may boost survival rates in cancer patients
A new study reveals that taking Aspirin, an over-the-counter painkiller has potential benefits. Researchers from Cardiff University reviewed studies linking cancer and painkiller. The study reveals that over-the-counter medication could boost survival by about 20 percent. The patients survived for longer and presented biological mechanisms explaining the reason. Additionally, some studies reveal a reduction in the rate of spread. Major changes include “reductions by aspirin in cancer-related inflammation, abnormal clotting and abnormal blood vessel growth, and enhancement in cellular repair”.
The study establishes that aspirin is a “relatively safe drug” for cancer patients. “This review examines what we know so far about the fascinating effect that aspirin has on the biology of cancer and how it might be helping to increase survival and prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. But we still need more clinical research to establish how effective it is, what patients will benefit from taking the drug and how much they should take and for how long,” stated Sam Godfrey. Godfrey is Cancer Research UK’s head of research information.
More on the study
However, further studies are needed as trials revealed varying results. “There appears to be an impressive harmony between the biological effects of aspirin on mechanisms relevant to cancer, and the effects of aspirin on clinical outcomes in cancer,” stated the researchers. “To help answer some of these questions, Cancer Research UK is funding Add-Aspirin, the world’s largest clinical trial studying if aspirin can prevent certain types of cancer from coming back,” added Godfrey.
About 11,000 patients from India, Ireland, and the UK are going to be a part of a new trial. They would have undergone treatment for early-stage cancers. This will help in understanding if regular use of the drug helps prevent recurrence or death.