Review Article on Aspirin for prevention of cancer-A potential!

Abstract

Cancer has been a worldwide threat now with millions of cases of morbidity and mortality owing to it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer accounted for 8.2 million deaths worldwide by 2012 and its prevalence is predicted to increase in the next decade. There are, however, new data that reinforce the notion that low-dose aspirin intake may also help to prevent cancer and prevent the multiplying of cancer cells. Over the last few years, many studies have combated or supported the substantiation of the relationship between aspirin and cancer that have awakened the interest of researchers in this area. Many studies with follow-up period as long as 20 years have been carried out to analyze the effect that regular use of low-dose aspirin (75-300mg) can have on cancer prevention, especially colorectal cancer and the results have been promising. With the comprehensive analysis of risks and benefits and the linking evidences showing that aspirin, at low doses, can lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer by 40%, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in 2015 released a draft recommendation around the use of aspirin to help prevent cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. The guidance was later released in April 2016. By far, there have been evidences for both COX-dependent and COX-independent mechanisms in aspirin cancer prevention. Based on the data that we have from various RCT’s and pharmacovigilance sources, the safety profile of aspirin looks reasonably good with the most commonly reported adverse event being Gastrointestinal bleeding. Although some clinical trials have shown that the risk may only be modest it however, cannot be ignored

Keywords: Cancer, Aspirin, prevention.