Aspirin cuts risk of colorectal cancer recurrence in high-risk patients: Study

ISTANBUL

A daily dose of aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer returning in high-risk individuals, according to new research.

Published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study found that taking aspirin after tumor removal lowers the chance of recurrence by 50% within three years.

The study examined colorectal cancer patients with specific genetic mutations that made their tumors more responsive to aspirin’s anti-cancer effects—mutations present in about 40% of cases.

Each year, nearly two million people worldwide are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 20 to 40% develop metastases—when cancer spreads to other parts of the body—making it more difficult to treat and more deadly.

Earlier studies showed aspirin may prevent colorectal cancer in people with hereditary risks like Lynch syndrome, but whether it lowers the chance of cancer returning after surgery was still unknown.

Researchers studied over 3,500 colorectal cancer patients across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland and found that 37% had genetic mutations in the PI3K pathway, which is associated with the disease.

Patients with the mutations were randomly given either 160 mg of aspirin daily or a placebo for three years after surgery. The trial showed that those taking aspirin were 55% less likely to experience cancer recurrence.

Aspirin’s protective effect is believed to come from reducing inflammation, disrupting the PI3K pathway, and lowering blood platelet activity, which can shield tumor cells from the immune system.

While aspirin is widely used, long-term use carries risks. In the research, a few patients experienced serious side effects, and one death was possibly linked to the drug.