Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

The Resurrection of Aspirin as an Anticancer and Pregnancy Drug

We used to say that aspirin was the Rodney Dangerfield of drugs...it didn't get much respect. Aspirin as an anticancer agent should!

Aspirin has been getting mixed reviews lately. There’s good news and bad news. Once upon a time doctors recommended low-dose aspirin for middle-aged and older patients to prevent heart attacks and strokes. That was even for otherwise healthy people. Some doctors even suggested that some high-risk patients take aspirin as an anticancer agent. Then the “wonder drug that works wonders”  began to fall into disfavor. Most cardiologists now discourage routine aspirin use unless a patient is at very high risk for a heart attack. But there are some signals that the pendulum may be starting to swing back.

Cardiologists Turn Away from Aspirin:

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) says that low-dose aspirin should only be used by people at high risk of strokes or heart attacks. Others, they said, would be more likely to be harmed.

The 2019 ACC/AHA guidelines state:

“Low-dose aspirin for primary prevention [of cardiovascular disease] now reserved for select high-risk patients.”

Cardiologists believe that any anti-clotting benefits of aspirin that could prevent heart attacks or “ischemic” strokes are offset by an increased risk of bleeding.

Aspirin as an Anticancer Drug:

Now for the good aspirin news. Researchers from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center report that patients with head and neck cancer have a better chance of survival if they take low-dose aspirin while undergoing treatment. An additional 8 percent of patients taking the 81 mg daily dose were still alive five years after treatment compared to those not taking aspirin.

A different study at Roswell Park compared aspirin vs no-aspirin among 164 patients being treated for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer. The patients got precision radiation therapy. Two years after treatment, 57 percent of those taking low-dose aspirin were still alive, compared to 48 percent of those who did not take the drug.

Both studies were presented at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Sept. 15 and 16, 2019.

Breast Cancer:

A study published in the January issue of the Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics demonstrates that aspirin may be helpful against some breast cancer cases:

“Substantial epidemiologic evidence suggests that Aspirin use reduces the risk of different cancers including BC [breast cancer], while its role as an adjuvant or a possible antineoplastic agent in cancer treatment is being investigated. In this study, we attempted to explore possibilities of ERα [estrogen receptor alpha] inhibition by Aspirin which may act through competitive binding to the ligand binding domain (LBD) of ERα.”

A study published in Women Health (Feb. 7, 2024) concluded:

“In conclusion, aspirin use after diagnosis might be associated with reduced recurrence and disease-specific mortality in women with breast cancer.”

Head and Neck Cancer:

Head and neck cancer (HNC) can be challenging. A study published in Head & Neck (Jan. 16, 2024) concludes:

“This study suggests that aspirin intake may reduce the risk of HNC, driven mainly by decreases in risk for laryngeal [larynx] and oropharyngeal [tongue, palate, tonsils, side or back of throat] cancer.”

Aspirin and Genes:

We were especially impressed by a study in the journal Cancers, January, 2024, that analyzed plausible mechanisms whereby aspirin may “exert its effect on improving survival.” The authors reveal that their “…search identified 41 genes that are related to aspirin and cancer survival…” Without getting too deep into the weeds, those include tumor suppressor genes, cytokine regulators and DNA repair pathways.

Other Research Suggesting Aspirin as an Anticancer Agent:

For more than three decades aspirin has been shown to have anticancer activity. We have written extensively about this at the following links:

Will Aspirin Keep Barrett’s from Turning into Cancer?

Can You Prevent Breast Cancer with Aspirin?

Aspirin Vs. Cancer: What Are We Waiting For?

Should You Take Aspirin for Cancer Prevention or Not?

Aspirin Boosts Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment

Aspirin During High-Risk Pregnancies

In 2014 the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended that obstetricians consider recommending low-dose aspirin to patients at risk of pre-eclampsia. This complication of pregnancy can be extremely serious for both mother and baby.

Women taking low-dose aspirin (60 to 150 mg/day) are 24 percent less likely to develop pre-eclampsia. It has been known that low-dose aspirin could be helpful for this condition for almost three decades.

Fast Forward a Decade:

Women are often warned to avoid medications during pregnancy for fear that a drug might harm the fetus. Of course there are exceptions when the medicine might benefit the mother.

Doctors often prescribe low-dose aspirin to women who are at high risk for preeclampsia and preterm birth. Preeclampsia, also known as hypertension of pregnancy can put both the mother and baby in jeopardy.

The ASPIRIN study (Obstetrics & Gynecology, Jan. 23, 2024) involved almost 12,000 women in six different countries. They were randomized to receive either low-dose aspirin or placebo starting as early as six weeks into their pregnancies. Women who took aspirin were less likely to deliver pre-term or experience hypertension, so the drug was effective.

In a follow-up study, researchers assessed neurodevelopment in more than 600 three-year-olds. The investigators did not discover any evidence that aspirin was harmful. The lead author stated:

“We were able to look at development using a number of different instruments and different domains and saw no differences in children who were exposed to aspirin early in pregnancy and those who were not.”

Words of Caution:

No pregnant should take any medication, Rx or OTC, without clearing it with an OB/GYN! Aspirin can interact with other medications in a dangerous way. And some women are susceptible to bleeding. Please use caution!

The same concerns apply to anyone contemplating aspirin to prevent cardiovascular problems or cancer. Aspirin can be very dangerous for some people, especially those who might be vulnerable to bleeding or ulcers. Anyone contemplating taking aspirin should be under medical supervision!

What is your experience with aspirin. Do you think it is a menace or a miracle? Share your experience in the comment section below.

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
4.4- 215 ratings
About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Citations
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.