US Pharm. 2012;37(9)(Oncology/Hematology suppl):19.

An observational study appearing online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds further evidence of a relationship between daily aspirin use and modestly lower cancer mortality. The large study also suggests, however, that any reduction may be smaller than that observed in a recent analysis, which found an estimated 37% reduction in cancer mortality among those using aspirin for 5 years or more.

In the current study, American Cancer Society researchers led by Eric J. Jacobs, PhD, analyzed data from 100,139 mostly elderly participants in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort who reported aspirin use on questionnaires, did not have cancer when the study began, and were followed for up to 11 years. The researchers found daily aspirin use was associated with an estimated 16% lower overall risk of cancer mortality, both among people who reported taking aspirin daily for at least 5 years and among those who reported shorter term, daily use. The lower overall cancer mortality was driven by about 40% lower mortality from cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., esophageal, stomach, and colorectal cancer) and about 12% lower mortality from cancers outside the gastrointestinal tract.

“Expert committees that develop clinical guidelines will consider the totality of evidence about aspirin’s risks and benefits when guidelines for aspirin use are next updated,” said Dr. Jacobs. “Although recent evidence about aspirin use and cancer is encouraging, it is still premature to recommend people start taking aspirin specifically to prevent cancer.”