According to leading researchers, studies to find the right dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of cancer in some patients found minimal work and large-scale studies.
The trial involved 1,879 people with Lynch syndrome who received three different sized doses of painkillers.
Professor John Byrne of Newcastle University said he would ask health regulators to formally advise people with genetic conditions to prescribe a lower dose of 75mg.
Nick James, who has Lynch syndrome — and lost almost all of his family to cancer — was the first to sign up for trial. He said the findings are “very relieved.”
The Newcastle-based furniture manufacturer has not stopped leaving their families in the UK.
“A significant number of members of my family have cancer – like colorectal cancer and endometrium,” he explained.
“My grandfather had bladder cancer. My mother had a certain type of cancer. When you start looking at the family tree, it becomes clear what’s going on.
“I didn’t really know I had Lynch syndrome until 13 years ago. That’s when I learned about the aspirin exam.”
Claire BowesJames was the first to sign up for his latest exam nearly a decade ago.
Cancer Prevention Project 3 Research (CAPP3), patients taking different daily doses of 100 mg, 300 mg, or 600 mg, supported by Cancer Research UK.
A European-sized dose of 100 mg of aspirin was used in the study. The established dose is 75 mg per day in the UK and 81 mg in the US.
James learned he was taking a 300mg dose.
“The fact that I can go to baby aspirin now makes me feel unfair,” he said. “There were no major side effects, but it is potentially reduced.
“This study shows that taking aspirin reduces the risk of cancer when you have Lynch syndrome, which is very reassuring for me and my family.”
Optimal dosage
People with Lynch syndrome have inherited false genes that can increase the likelihood of developing several cancers, including bowel and uterine cancer.
Professor Byrne, who was involved in the discovery of Lynch syndrome and led international research, said he focused on those patients on his research “because they have acquired so many cancers.”
“We already have great guidance that we need to recommend people with Lynch syndrome to take aspirin. Now we need to recommend baby aspirin.”
Previous research led by Burn Prof Found Protective benefits for people taking 600mg of aspirin daily.
He said the new results showed the lowest doses that worked as well as the larger doses.
“So, what we can say with statistical confidence now is that people taking baby aspirin are as protected as two people taking aspirin, but are much less likely to experience side effects,” he added.
In some people, aspirin can cause bleeding, so Professor Byrne said he wanted people with Lynch syndrome to recommend administering the lowest dose.
“Broadly speaking, if someone with Lynch syndrome has a chance of about 2% of the year getting intestinal cancer, then if they are taking aspirin, that’s half of it, and it decreases to about 1% per year,” he explained.
Professor Byrne said the next big challenge would be to find people who didn’t even know they had Lynch syndrome.
He said “approximately 150,000 patients in the UK are in the condition,” but a small number are only tested when they notice that cancer runs in their families.
“It was only when I had cancer in my 40s and 50s and remembered that my aunt had cancer and a grandfather.”
NHS England said it is a strategic priority for people with Lynch syndrome to identify more people in only 5-10% of diagnosed patients. Once diagnosed, cancer screening and monitoring can be provided.
Professor Byrne said:
The results of the study are Cancer Prevention Research Councilwill be held in London starting Wednesday, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society.
