Taking an aspirin a day helps reduce the risk of recurrence among colon cancer survivors.

Previous research has suggested that people who take regular aspirin - for arthritis, say - run a reduced risk of colon cancer. Now the US-based Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) reports on a study of people who had survived colon cancer, but were at risk of recurrence.

In this study, 517 patients received either a daily aspirin or a placebo. The occurrence of polyps in the colon was reduced by a third in the aspirin group. Such polyps often progress to cancer. Those on aspirin who did get polyps had fewer of them and they took longer to develop. In fact, the results of this trial were judged so encouraging that it was stopped early, so all could benefit from aspirin treatment.

Aspirin blocks an enzyme called cyclo-oxygenase, which is known to be active in the early stages of colon cancer. The CALGB researchers caution that no-one should start taking aspirin without their doctor's advice, as it may have severe side effects in some people. Meanwhile, aspirin-like drugs are currently being tested for their protective action in people with a normal risk of colon cancer.

Source

New England Journal of Medicine 6th March 2003