July 2, 2021

expert reaction to review and analysis of observational studies on aspirin and cancer survival

A review and analysis paper published in eCancermedicalscience looks at 118 observational studies of aspirin and 18 cancers.

Dr Mangesh Thorat, Deputy Director (Clinical) of the Cancer Prevention Trials Unit at King’s College London, and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, said:

“Scientific and clinical researchers have been aware of aspirin’s potential to reduce risk of recurrence or death in patients diagnosed with certain cancers and therefore several randomised trials in patients with certain cancers are already underway worldwide including a very large multinational trial called ADD-Aspirin here in the UK. This review pooled data from numerous observational studies, which are hypothesis generating. It is randomised trials that provide definitive evidence to consider changes to clinical practice. The results of this review provide impetus for cancer patients to consider participation in these trials and for the scientific community to consider developing trials in cancers that are not already being investigated. Until results from major trials become available, cancer patients should not rush to take aspirin, but should certainly discuss trial participation with their treating clinicians.”

‘Aspirin and cancer survival: a systematic review and meta-analyses of 118 observational studies of aspirin and 18 cancers’ by Peter C Elwood et al. was published in eCancermedicalscience at 10:00 UK time on Friday 2 July.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2021.1258

Declared interests

Dr Mangesh Thorat: “M. Thorat is a member of Data Monitoring Committee of ADD-Aspirin trial.”