Regular taking of aspirin reduces the risk of developing hereditary cancers, according to the findings of a decade-long study by scientists including those from Queen's University, particularly bowel and womb cancers.

However, scientists warned that before anyone considers taking the medicine they should first discuss it with their doctors as aspirin is known to cause stomach ailments like ulcers.

The research was published online in The Lance on Oct. 28.

Funded by the Cancer Research UK, the study involved scientists and clinicians from 43 centers in 16 countries. It followed 1,000 patients, in some cases for over 10 years and it was found out that those who had been taking a regular dose of aspirin had 50 percent fewer incidents of hereditary cancer as compared to those who were not.

The research focused on people with Lynch syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder that causes cancer by affecting genes responsible for detecting and repairing damage in the DNA. It found out that around 50 per cent of those with Lynch syndrome develop cancer, mainly in the bowel and womb.

Other cancers related to the syndrome were also looked into and it was found out that almost 30 per cent of the patients not taking aspirin had developed a cancer compared to around 15 per cent of those taking the aspirin. Those who had taken aspirin still developed the same number of polyps but they did not go on to develop cancer.

Thus, it suggests that aspirin could possibly be causing these cells to destruct before they turn cancerous.
"The result of this study, which has been ongoing for over a decade, proves that the regular intake of aspirin over a prolonged period halves the risk of developing hereditary cancers. The effects of aspirin in the first five years of the study were not clear but in those who took aspirin for between five and ten years the results were very clear," said Professor Patrick Morrison from Queen's University in Belfast, who led the Northern Ireland part of the study.

"This is a huge breakthrough in terms of cancer prevention. For those who have a history of hereditary cancers in their family, like bowel and womb cancers, this will be welcome news. Not only does it show we can reduce cancer rates and ultimately deaths, it opens up other avenues for further cancer prevention research. We aim now to go forward with another trial to assess the most effective dosage of aspirin for hereditary cancer prevention and to look at the use of aspirin in the general population as a way of reducing the risk of bowel cancer," he added.