Can aspirin stop cancer returning? Huge study into benefits of drug gets underway

Taking asiprin every day could stop cancer returning

A HUGE study has been launched to discover whether taking aspirin every day can stop cancer returning.

 

The clinical trial will involve 11,000 patients who have recently had – or are having – cancer treatment and could last for up to 12 years.

It will compare a group of people taking 300mg of aspirin daily, a group taking 100mg of aspirin daily and a group taking dummy drugs.

Aspirin is already proven to help prevent heart attacks and strokes in some people. 

And previous research has suggested it could also prevent some types of cancer – including bowel and stomach cancer.

 

The UK-wide study will involve 11,000 cancer patients

The Add-Aspirin phase III trial is funded by Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research.

Dr Fiona Reddington of Cancer Research UK said described aspirin's possible effects on cancer as "fascinating".

She added: "We hope this trial will give us a clear answer on whether or not the drug helps stop some cancers coming back.

"This trial is especially exciting as cancers that recur are often harder to treat so finding a cheap and effective way to prevent this is potentially game-changing for patients."

 

Professor Ruth Langley said could the trial could change cancer treatment

Professor Ruth Langley said the trial could "change future treatment" if the drug is proven to prevent tumours from returning.

She added: "There's been some interesting research suggesting that aspirin could delay or stop early-stage cancers coming back.

"But there's been no randomised trial to give clear proof. This trial aims to answer this question once and for all."