For years, aspirin has been a popular choice for pain relief. Recent research has shed light on its potential role in battling cancer.
Previous studies hinted at a connection between aspirin usage and improved cancer survival rates. A recent study published in Nature explains the mechanism behind this link. However, experts warn that while aspirin may have benefits, it is not a cure and comes with risks such as an increased risk of internal bleeding.
So, how does aspirin work in preventing cancer spread? And what does this mean for future treatments?
What have studies revealed about aspirin usage and cancer?
Recent studies have shown how aspirin, a common pain reliever, could potentially prevent cancer from spreading. However, it is unclear whether this effect applies to all types of cancer.
Researchers have been exploring this connection for many years. The first clinical study conducted in 1988 demonstrated that regular use of aspirin significantly decreased the risk of colorectal cancer. However, the underlying reason was not fully understood at the time.
A recent study from the University of Cambridge has provided more insight into how aspirin could prevent cancer metastasis, the process by which cancer spreads. Metastasis is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths, as cancer cells break away from the original tumour and attempt to establish in other parts of the body.
As cancer cells migrate, aspirin may enhance the body’s natural ability to combat them, preventing the cancer cells from establishing in other organs.
How can aspirin prevent cancer spread?
The key to aspirin’s impact on cancer lies in the body’s immune system, a complex network of cells and proteins that defends against infections, diseases, and harmful pathogens.
When cancer cells detach from a tumour and enter the bloodstream, the immune system – specifically a type of white blood cells called T-cells – typically identifies and eliminates them. However, platelets – small cell fragments in the blood that aid in clotting – can interfere with this process.
Cancer cells exploit platelets by triggering a response similar to an injury. Once platelets detect the roaming cancer cells, they rush to cover them, forming a protective shield that makes it difficult for the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer cells. Additionally, platelets release signals that inhibit T-cells, preventing them from carrying out their function.
Aspirin disrupts cancer’s attempts to evade the immune system by reducing the production of a molecule that platelets use to inhibit immune activity. By weakening the platelets, T-cells regain their ability to identify and destroy cancer cells before they can form new tumours.
How could aspirin be utilized in combating cancer?
The study suggests that aspirin may be beneficial after treatments like surgery, where tumours have been removed.
This is because some cancer cells may have already escaped from the tumour and begun to settle in other parts of the body, a process known as seeding. During seeding, small cancer cells implant themselves in new locations and may later develop into tumours.
However, experts advise against using aspirin as a cancer treatment without further research. The pain reliever carries the risk of serious side effects such as internal bleeding, as it can weaken platelets’ ability to aid in blood clotting.
Aspirin blocks a molecule that prompts platelets to aggregate, resulting in blood thinning and an increased risk of uncontrolled bleeding. This poses a particular danger in the stomach, where aspirin can irritate the lining and cause ulcers, as well as in the brain, where it elevates the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke if a small blood vessel ruptures.
Moreover, the study was conducted on mice, not humans, so the effects of aspirin on cancer spread need further confirmation before it can be recommended for treatment.
“Our research offers a molecular basis for findings from clinical studies, but appropriate clinical validation is still required,” stated Rahul Roychoudhuri, a professor in Cambridge’s Department of Pathology and a participant in the Nature study, to Al Jazeera.
Several clinical trials, such as the ADD-ASPIRIN trial in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and India, are ongoing to determine which patients are likely to benefit most from aspirin and whether it is effective for specific cancer types.
Roychoudhuri also mentioned that he does not anticipate a rapid transition of aspirin to cancer treatment.
Has aspirin been employed against diseases previously?
Some individuals with a high genetic predisposition to cancer, such as those with Lynch syndrome (a condition elevating the risk of specific cancers), are already advised to take aspirin as a preventive measure in countries like Australia and the UK.
Since the 1980s, aspirin has also been prescribed to prevent heart attacks and strokes in individuals at high risk of heart disease, by reducing platelets’ ability to form harmful clots that can obstruct blood flow to the heart or brain. This clot-preventing effect helps reduce the risk of heart attacks in those with a history of cardiovascular disease.
Does this signify a near breakthrough in curing cancer?
Not necessarily. While aspirin might slow or prevent cancer spread, it does not eradicate tumours completely.
Nevertheless, scientists are striving to identify biomarkers – measurable indicators in the blood – and platelet activity to detect individuals at risk of cancer early on.
“This would enable timely administration of aspirin to those in need while minimizing unnecessary exposure for those who do not require it,” explained Paola Patrignani, a pharmacology professor at Gabriele d’Annunzio University in Italy.
Experts suggest that these findings could contribute to the development of drugs that inhibit cancer spread.
“Our discoveries pave the way for the development of more targeted therapies that could potentially offer the benefits without the side effects of aspirin,” stated Roychoudhuri.
Patrignani, who is involved in research funded by Cancer Research UK to investigate whether other anti-platelet drugs, such as clopidogrel, could provide similar benefits, suggests that these studies will require another three to five years before completion.
However, she remains optimistic about the direction of research. “We are on the brink of a significant breakthrough in cancer research. This newfound knowledge could lead to innovative treatments and potentially save countless lives.”
Why is a cure for cancer still challenging to achieve?
Finding a cure for cancer remains one of medicine’s greatest challenges.
Due to the variety of cancer types, each with unique characteristics and methods of spreading, developing a universal cure is challenging.
Furthermore, tumour development is influenced by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Research indicates that treatment must be personalized to be truly effective.
Many cancers also employ tactics to evade or suppress the immune system, making them difficult to target even with immunotherapy.
