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| |  Aspirin May Protect Against Breast Cancer and Benefit Existing Patients NEW YORK -- March 7, 2008 -- Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin may reduce the incidence of breast cancer by up to 20% and also benefit patients who already have the disease, according to a report in the International Journal of Clinical Practice. However, the researchers stress that the study did not evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the risk for side effects. "Having weighed up the findings from over 20 studies, we have concluded that NSAIDs may well offer significant protection against developing breast cancer in the first place and may provide a useful addition to the treatment currently available to women who already have the disease," said Professor Ian Fentiman, MD, FRCS, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Breast Unit, Guy's Hospital, London. "NSAID use could be combined with hormone therapy or used to relieve symptoms in the commonest cause of cancer-related deaths in women." Professor Fentiman along with Mr. Avi Agrawal reviewed 21 studies covering more than 37,000 women published between 1980 and 2007. Eleven of the studies involved women with breast cancer, while the remaining 10 studies compared women who had the disease with women who were cancer-free. "Recent studies of NSAIDs use have shown about a 20% risk reduction in the incidence of breast cancer, but this benefit may be confined to aspirin use alone and not other NSAIDs," Professor Fentiman said, adding that a reduced breast cancer and all-cause mortality has been reported in those taking NSAIDs after diagnosis. Further research will be needed to determine the best type, dose, and duration of aspirin treatment. Additionally, the study did not evaluate whether the benefits of treatment with NSAIDs outweigh the side effects. "Our review did not look at the potential side effects of using NSAIDs on a regular basis," stresses Professor Fentiman "These can include gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation, which can carry a significant risk of ill health and death. It would be essential to take these negative effects into account before we could justify routinely using NSAIDs like aspirin to prevent breast cancer. "More research is clearly needed and we are not advocating that women take these non-prescription drugs routinely until the benefits and risks are clearer," he noted. "But our findings clearly indicate that these popular over-the-counter drugs could, if used correctly, play an important role in preventing and treating breast cancer." Previous studies have suggested that aspirin may also provide some protection against bowel cancer.
SOURCE: Cancer Research UK and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
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