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Aspirin in Prevention of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer: Current Clinical Evidence and Overall Balance of Risks and Benefits

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Book cover Prospects for Chemoprevention of Colorectal Neoplasia

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 191))

Abstract

In addition to longstanding evidence from observational studies, evidence from randomised trials of the effectiveness of aspirin for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer has increased substantially in recent years. Trials have shown that daily aspirin reduces the risk of any recurrent colorectal adenoma by 17 % and advanced adenoma by 28 %, and that daily aspirin for about 5 years reduces incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer by 30–40 % after 20 years of follow-up, and reduces the 20-year risk of all-cause cancer mortality by about 20 %. Recent evidence also shows that the risk of major bleeding on aspirin diminishes with prolonged use, suggesting that the balance of risk and benefit favours the use of daily aspirin in primary prevention of colorectal and other cancers. Updated clinical guidelines are currently awaited.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stroke Prevention Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX39DU, UK

    Peter M. Rothwell

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  1. Peter M. Rothwell
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Gastrointestinal Unit, Harvard Medical School, Fruit Street 55, Boston, 02114, Massachusetts, USA

    Andrew T. Chan

  2. BSP-GD-GMA-CVRM, Berlin, S101, 09, 140, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Müllerstraße 178, Berlin, 13351, Germany

    Elmar Detering

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Rothwell, P.M. (2013). Aspirin in Prevention of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer: Current Clinical Evidence and Overall Balance of Risks and Benefits. In: Chan, A., Detering, E. (eds) Prospects for Chemoprevention of Colorectal Neoplasia. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 191. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30331-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30331-9_7

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