Can Aspirin Keep Cancer From Spreading? New Research Says Yes!

Scientists have discovered how aspirin can help the immune system fight cancer and prevent it from spreading. This breakthrough, published in Nature, could improve cancer treatment and lead to the development of new drugs that stop cancer from metastasizing.

Previous studies have shown that people who take low-dose aspirin daily have a lower risk of cancer spread, particularly in breast, bowel, and prostate cancers. However, researchers were unsure exactly how aspirin worked to prevent metastasis.

A team from the University of Cambridge made this discovery while studying how cancer spreads. They focused on metastasis, which is responsible for 90% of cancer deaths. When cancer cells leave their original tumour and travel to other parts of the body, they become more vulnerable to attack by the immune system. While larger tumours often suppress immune responses, individual cancer cells are easier for the body to detect and destroy.

In their research, scientists screened 810 genes in mice and identified 15 genes linked to cancer spread. One key gene produced a protein called ARHGEF1, which was found to suppress the activity of T cells—a type of immune cell responsible for attacking cancer cells. Mice without this gene had fewer cancer metastases in their lungs and liver.

To develop potential treatments, the researchers needed to find a way to block ARHGEF1. They discovered that this protein is activated by thromboxane A2 (TXA2), a clotting factor in the blood. This was an unexpected finding, as TXA2 is already known to be affected by aspirin.

The scientists then tested their theory using a mouse model of melanoma. They found that giving aspirin to the mice reduced the number of metastatic cancer cells compared to mice that did not receive aspirin. This effect was due to aspirin decreasing TXA2 levels, which freed T cells from suppression and allowed them to attack cancer cells more effectively.

While these findings are promising, experts warn that aspirin is not suitable for everyone. In some people, it can cause serious side effects, such as stomach bleeding. Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the safest and most effective way to use aspirin in cancer prevention. Scientists advise anyone considering taking aspirin for cancer prevention to consult their doctor first.

This research provides new hope for stopping cancer from spreading and highlights the important role of the immune system in fighting the disease. If clinical trials confirm the benefits of aspirin, it could become a valuable tool in preventing cancer metastasis in the future.

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