The role of aspirin in the prevention of cancer has long haunted scientists.
A new study confirms that taking low doses of aspirin three times a week can reduce the incidence of breast cancer in women by 20%.
The project was organized by Dr. Leslie Bernstein (Leslie Bernstein), a member of the biomarker and early prevention unit at the NMC City of Hope (Monrovia, California). The results are published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.
Breast cancer remains one of the most common female oncological diseases, yielding to the palm tree of superiority only to melanoma. Every year in the United States alone, 250,000 new cases are diagnosed.
Past experiments have suggested the prophylactic properties of aspirin, but the data were scattered and contradictory. According to Dr. Bernstein, few of her predecessors considered the effect of low dosages of aspirin on malignant cells of various subtypes.
Therefore, for their analysis, Californian scientists took a dose of aspirin 81 milligrams (in the usual tablet Aspirin-Cardio contains 100 mg). Cancer cells were divided depending on the presence of hormone receptors (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2).
Recall that the hormone receptors of cancer cells react to sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. For example, estrogen-positive cells are actively growing under the action of estrogen, which serves as a catalyst for them.
Receptors of human epidermal growth factor (HER2) determine the sensitivity of the tumor to this protein stimulator.
Aspirin affects HR-positive / HER2-negative cancer.
The analysis included 57,164 California residents who participated in the California's Teachers Study from 1995 to 2013.
In 2005, participants reported on the use of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and by 2013, scientists calculated the number of cases of breast cancer and made appropriate conclusions.
In total, by January 2013, 1,457 participants were sick, among them:.
- 998 cases of HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer.
- 138 cases of HR-negative / HER2-negative cancer.
- 120 cases of HR-positive / HER2-positive cancer.
- 44 cases of HR-negative / HER2-positive cancer.
- 157 cases with an unknown subtype of the disease. The analysis showed that the regular intake of a low dose of aspirin at least 3 times a week (every other day) is associated with a 16% decrease in the incidence of breast cancer, with HR-positive / HER2-negative by as much as 20%.
There was no correlation between the incidence of cancer and the intake of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
"We also did not find a connection between the episodic intake of aspirin (with headache and a cold) and the incidence of breast cancer. For a prophylactic effect, a regular intake is required, "the authors note..
The mechanism of action of aspirin remains a mystery, but scientists state the anti-inflammatory properties of the drug, as well as its ability to suppress the aromatase enzyme. Aromatase inhibitors are now used to treat breast cancer, but it is much more powerful means.
Consult your doctor.
medbe. en.