NSAIDS and Cancer Prevention
Over the last four decades dozens of epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies have established nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as promising epithelial cancer chemopreventive agents. The long-term use of aspirin and other NSAIDs has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer of the colon and other gastrointestinal organs, as well as cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, and skin. In a recent review, Harris[1] et. al. comprehensively reviewed the published research on NSAIDs and cancer incident. Data from 91 epidemiologic studies were analyzed for the dose response of relative cancer risk and level of NSAID intake for ten prevalent human cancers. The results showed a significant exponential decline in the risk with increasing intake of NSAIDs (primarily aspirin or ibuprofen) for 7 out of the 10 cancers, including the four major types: colon, breast, lung, and prostate cancer. Consistent daily intake of NSAIDs (primarily aspirin), produced risk reductions of 73% for stomach, 69% for esophageal, 63% for colon, 47% for ovarian, 39% for breast and prostate, and 36% for lung! NSAID effects became apparent after five or more years of use and were stronger with longer duration. Despite general consensus as to the effectiveness of NSAIDs for cancer prevention, unresolved questions with regard to safety, efficacy, optimal treatment regimen, and mechanism of action currently limit the clinical application of NSAIDs to the prevention of cancer. Also, the development of safe and effective NSAIDs for chemoprevention is complicated by the potential that rare, serious toxicity may offset the benefit of treatment with these drugs given to healthy individuals who have a low risk of developing cancer. However, I believe there is growing support for the view that a full understanding of the role of NSAIDs in the prevention and treatment of epithelial cancers will be an integral part of the development of effective future treatments for reducing mortality and morbidity from most cancers. 1. Harris RE, Beebe-Donk J, Doss H, Burr Doss D. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cancer prevention: a critical review of non-selective COX-2 blockade (review). Oncol Rep. 2005 Apr;13(4):559-83.
Source: Inflammablog3
