February 24, 2023

expert reaction to study looking at the association of frequent aspirin use with ovarian cancer risk

A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at aspirin use and risk of ovarian cancer.

Marie-Claire Platt, Head of Policy and Research at Ovarian Cancer Action, said:

“This study adds to growing evidence that aspirin is a promising ovarian cancer prevention tool for women with and without an increased genetic risk. These results now must be explored by clinicians so that women at high risk can benefit from these discoveries as soon as possible. Until then, taking aspirin regularly can have risks so it’s important that patients consider discussing its use for cancer prevention with medical professionals.”

Prof Darius Widera, Associate Professor in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Reading, said:

“The authors of the study used data from eight large case-control studies conducted in the UK, USA, and Australia to address the question of whether frequent use of aspirin can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in patients with and without genetic risk factors. Overall, this study confirms earlier reports suggesting that daily use of aspirin may have protective effects against ovarian cancer. The novel finding of the study is that these effects can be seen in both patients with and without a higher risk due to genetic factors. Since aspirin use can cause adverse effects such as ulcers and, in some cases, even haemorrhagic stroke, limiting its use to individuals with higher genetic risk would represent an important step in increasing patient safety.

“Although well-designed, the study has some limitations. As a retrospective case-control study, the selection of the cases and controls might have been biased, as the main source of data is the self-reported frequency of aspirin use.

“It’s also important to note that while aspirin may help reduce the risk, it is not a substitute for other preventive measures such as regular screening and a healthy lifestyle.”

‘Association of Frequent Aspirin Use With Ovarian Cancer Risk According to Genetic Susceptibility’ by Lauren M. Hurwitz et al. was published in JAMA Network Open at 16:00 UK time Friday 24 February 2023.

DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.0666 

Declared interests

Prof Darius Widera: “I have no conflict of interest to declare.”