Low-Dose Aspirin Cuts Recurrence Risk in PI3K-Altered Colorectal Cancer | AJMC
A simple, low-cost medicine that’s available in nearly every pharmacy could play a major role in preventing colon cancer from coming back.
A new Scandinavian study has found that a daily low dose of aspirin can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence by 55% in patients whose tumors carry a specific genetic mutation.
What the Study Found
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital tracked more than 3,500 patients from 33 hospitals in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. All patients had undergone surgery to remove their colon or rectal tumors.
- Patients with a PI3K pathway mutation were split into two groups.
- One group took 160 mg of aspirin daily, while the other received a placebo.
- After three years, those on aspirin had half the risk of cancer coming back compared to the placebo group.
The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Why It Matters
Dr. Anna Martling, senior author of the study, explained that this is the first randomized trial to confirm aspirin’s benefit for this group of patients. About one-third of colorectal cancer patients carry this mutation, making the findings highly relevant.
Interestingly, the effect appeared stronger in women, though more research is needed.
Expert Reactions
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News medical analyst (not involved in the study), said aspirin’s anti-inflammatory properties may help block cancer growth. He noted that the PIK3 mutation—found in about 30% of colon cancers—is known to fuel rapid tumor development.
“This large study shows aspirin can make a real difference for patients with this mutation,” Siegel said, while stressing that more follow-up research is necessary.
Important Safety Notes
While aspirin is inexpensive and widely available, it isn’t safe for everyone. Doctors warn that people with stomach ulcers, bleeding disorders, asthma, or those on blood thinners should avoid it unless advised by a physician. Side effects may include stomach irritation and increased bleeding risk.
What’s Next
The researchers recommend that testing for PI3K pathway mutations be considered for colon cancer patients after surgery. However, they caution that aspirin should not be self-prescribed for cancer prevention. Patients should always consult their doctors first.
If widely adopted, experts say this approach could prevent thousands of recurrences worldwide, especially in places where access to expensive cancer treatments is limited.
#ColorectalCancer #CancerResearch #AspirinBenefits #HealthNews #MedicalBreakthrough