Low-dose aspirin to improve survival after anticancer therapy

Taking low-dose aspirin after anti-cancer therapy can potentially improve the survival rate by up to 20%, an UK study reported. The study results appear in the journal PLOS ONE.

Nevertheless, this is not the first study to report this benefit in cancer patients.

The review study analyzed 47 clinical trials that investigated the benefits of aspirin in breast cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer patients. The study subjects were followed-up for 5 years. Most of the studies were placebo-controlled and rest of the studies was designed to observe the benefits of aspirin use after anti-cancer treatment. The timing of aspirin treatment initiation was also studied.

Evidences of reduction in cancer-related deaths and cancer progression were observed in most of the studies. These findings clearly proved that low-dose aspirin use can significantly reduce the risk of certain cancers and improve the survival rate by 15-20% by reducing metastases.

Low-dose aspirin can be helpful to reduce the risk of several inflammatory disorders including cancer and cardiovascular problems. However, the risk of non-serious gastrointestinal bleeding and perforations cannot be ruled out. Patients must understand these risks and discuss the treatment options with their healthcare providers. 

Although the evidences are mounting to support the benefits of low-dose aspirin against various cancers, more studies are warranted, the authors wrote in the publication.