For years, scientists have suggested that aspirin might offer protection against the deadly threat of colorectal cancer. Recently, they have started to uncover how this common pain reliever might achieve this effect. Researchers have found that aspirin’s ability to fight cancer is linked to enhancing the body’s immune response to malignant cells.
Aspirin Boosts Immune Surveillance of Tumors.
Colorectal cancer, which can develop in the large intestine or rectum, is the third most common type of cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), colorectal cancer accounts for about one in ten cancer cases. In 2020, nearly 2 million new cases were reported globally, resulting in more than 930,000 deaths, often due to late detection which limits treatment options.
A recent study published in the journal Cancer by the American Cancer Society indicates that aspirin may help prevent colorectal cancer by enhancing the immune response against cancerous cells. Researchers studied 238 colorectal cancer patients who had surgery between 2015 and 2020, with 12 percent being regular aspirin users. Tissue samples showed that aspirin users had less cancer spread and more immune cells infiltrating their tumours compared to non-users. Further analysis revealed that aspirin increased the expression of the CD80 protein on certain immune cells.
CD80 is crucial for regulating cell activity and its increased expression improved the immune cells’ ability to recognize tumor-associated proteins. Patients with rectal cancer who used aspirin exhibited higher levels of CD80 in healthy rectal tissue, suggesting that aspirin enhanced immune surveillance. “Our research highlights an additional mechanism of cancer prevention or therapy with aspirin beyond its traditional role in reducing inflammation,” said Dr. Marco Scarpa, the study’s principal investigator and a general surgeon at the University of Padova Hospital in Italy, in a press release. Additionally, Nazlie Latefi, who holds a doctorate in neuroscience, biochemistry, and molecular biology, explained that aspirin might also protect against colorectal cancer by reducing inflammation, which can weaken the immune system’s ability to fight cancer.
From Pain Relief to Disease Prevention.
Aspirin’s origins trace back around 3,500 years to ancient Egyptians who used willow bark, a natural source of the compound. It wasn’t until 1897 that Bayer chemist Felix Hoffmann synthesized it as a drug, making it one of the world’s most widely used medications. Research indicates that this naturally occurring substance is effective against major health threats. For instance, one study linked low-dose aspirin use (81 milligrams at least three times weekly) to a significantly reduced risk of a specific type of hormone-driven breast cancer in over 57,000 women followed for eight years. “This is the first study to suggest that the risk reduction occurs with low-dose aspirin and not with regular-dose aspirin, and only among women with the hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative subtype,” the authors noted. In low doses (75 to 100 milligrams), aspirin can lower the risk of heart attacks by reducing blood clot formation in diseased arteries. Therefore, people who have had a heart attack or stroke are often advised to take daily aspirin to prevent blood clots.
Despite its benefits, aspirin does come with potential risks. Generally safe, it can still cause gastrointestinal ulcers, increase bleeding risk due to its blood-thinning properties, and trigger allergic reactions such as hives and asthma in some individuals. Further research is essential to fully understand the potential of new treatments or prevention strategies involving aspirin.