In Other Journals

Daily intake of aspirin appears to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), according to UK researchers. The findings are based on the results of two large previously performed randomised controlled trials involving over 7500 participants with post-trial follow-up of over 20 years. The results indicate that 300 mg of aspirin a day for about 5 years is effective in the primary prevention of CRC, with a 10-year latency of effect. A concurrent systematic review of relevant observational studies suggested a similar effect of daily aspirin use on CRC incidence, with more evidence supporting a minimum daily dose of 300 mg in order to achieve the protective effect. The authors comment that previous studies may have missed the association due to the long lag time involved, which is probably secondary to the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.