Aspirin and colorectal cancer: the promise of precision chemoprevention

• Published in: Nature reviews. Cancer Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 173 - 186
• Main Authors: Drew, David A., Cao, Yin, Chan, Andrew T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.03.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/67/1504/1885; 631/67/2195; 631/67/69; Aspirin; Aspirin - pharmacology; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cancer Research; Chemoprevention; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - etiology; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - prevention & control; Dosage and administration; Humans; opinion-2; Precision Medicine; Prevention
• ISSN: 1474-175X; 1474-1768; 1474-1768
• DOI: 10.1038/nrc.2016.4

This Opinion article summarizes the evidence supporting the use of aspirin to prevent colorectal cancer. By considering the pathways that mediate the anticancer effects of aspirin, the authors evaluate potential biomarkers that may enable a precision medicine approach to aspirin chemoprevention. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has become one of the most commonly used drugs, given its role as an analgesic, antipyretic and agent for cardiovascular prophylaxis. Several decades of research have provided considerable evidence demonstrating its potential for the prevention of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer. Broader clinical recommendations for aspirin-based chemoprevention strategies have recently been established; however, given the known hazards of long-term aspirin use, larger-scale adoption of an aspirin chemoprevention strategy is likely to require improved identification of individuals for whom the protective benefits outweigh the harms. Such a precision medicine approach may emerge through further clarification of aspirin's mechanism of action.