Die regelmäßiger Einnahme von Aspirin reduzierte in einer in Mailand durchgeführten Studie die Häufigkeit bestimmter Krebserkrankungen um 2/3.

Aspirin Cuts Cancer Risk by Two Thirds


[Wednesday, March 05, 2003] Chances are good that you have a potent cancer fighter in your medicine cabinet. Known to protect against heart disease and thought to protect against bowel and lung cancer, Aspirin also appears to dramatically cut the risk of mouth, throat and esophagus cancer.

"This is the first quantitative evidence that taking Aspirin may reduce the risk of developing cancers in what we call the aerodigestive tract, connecting the mouth and the stomach," says Cristina Bosetti from the Institute of Pharmacological Research in Milan.

A study led by Bosetti found that that taking Aspirin regularly for five years cuts the risk of developing such cancers by two thirds.

Regular intake

She and colleagues analyzed three separate studies involving 965 cancer patients and 1779 people in hospital for other conditions.

The patients provided information on their smoking habits, drinking habits and daily intake of Aspirin. Those taking the drug were doing so because of other health problems, such as heart disease.

People who took Aspirin regularly for at least five years had two thirds less chance of developing cancers of the aerodigestive tract.

"We think that Aspirin may take effect by acting on an enzyme called cyclooxegenase-2, which has a role both in inflammation and the process of cancer growth," says Bosetti.

Experts say that before recommending daily Aspirin for everyone, further research is necessary to evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of long-term use.

The study was published in the British Journal of Cancer.