Breast cancer is the abnormal and uncontrollable growth of cells in the breast. Survival rates of patients with breast cancer in developed parts of the world are about 80-90% alive for at least 5 years. Breast cancer is known as the leading type of cancer in women, but men are also able to develop breast cancer. Depending on the stage of cancer, treatment can consist of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery. These treatments of cancer are costly and have other consequences. With treatments such as chemotherapy, we may be killing off the cancerous cells, but at the same time we kill the normal, healthy cells as well. So the question is, how do we treat breast cancer at a low cost and low toxicity? Aspirin may be a possible answer.
Yes you read that right- aspirin, the blood thinner and non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat fever, headaches, and inflammation. There have been multiple observational studies have reported improved breast cancer survival with regular aspirin use (Chen, 1). Currently, the understanding that we have about the relationship between aspirin and breast cancer is that aspirin binds and inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2. COX-1 and COX-2 are apart of the COX pathway, which is a pathway that is important for the synthesis of prostaglandins that are involved with cellular proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. Those prostaglandins have characteristics in which cancerous cells want to have in a cancerous environment in order to spread cancer. However, researchers still don't know exactly what is the relationship between the COX pathway and breast cancer is.
Besides the mechanism of the COX pathway, researchers also observed that other mechanisms such as inflammation, platelets, PI3 Kinase, AKT, and mTOR pathways, and hormonal pathways are possible mechanisms in which aspirin has an effect on and therefore has an effect on breast cancer treatment. P13 Kinase, AKT, and mTOR pathways also deal with cell proliferation and cell signaling, which are important in metastasis of cancer.
So although the relationship between all of these mechanisms of aspirin and breast cancer is not super clear, it is clear from observational studies that there is an improved breast cancer survival with the regular use of aspirin as treatment. Since aspirin is very low in cost and very low in toxicity, it poses as a potential treatment for breast cancer. More research has to be done to determine if aspirin should be used as clinical treatment for breast cancer.
If you want to read more about this study, you can do so here.
References:
Chen, Wendy Y., and Michelle D. Holmes. “Role of Aspirin in Breast Cancer Survival.” Current
Oncology Reports, vol. 19, no. 7, 9 June 2017, doi:10.1007/s11912-017-0605-6.
Hi Sherlynn, very interesting post! I was wondering if this treatment could be applied to other forms of cancer as aspirin seems to effect a very general mechanism in the body. I found a paper that supported your theory and included evidence that aspirin also decreases the rate of cancers including those found in the colon, esophagus, lungs, and bladder via the same COX-1 & 2 pathways.
ReplyDeleteThis is a super interesting concept. As you stated, aspirin could be used to help treat breast cancer. On the other hand, there are studies being done that show that taking a low dose aspirin at least three times a week can help PREVENT women from getting the most common type of breast cancer.
ReplyDeleteLow-dose aspirin, also known as "baby" aspirin, has been recommended for daily use in another situation as well. It can be taken to reduce the risk of heart disease too. So, using it for breast cancer is not the first time daily use was recommended.
http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/link-between-aspirin-and-lower-risk
This study showed that there was a 20 percent risk reduction to this most common type of breast cancer. Although this is a great concept, the study didn't establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship and therefore is too early to suggest this method to reduce someone's risk of getting breast cancer.
https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20170501/low-dose-aspirin-may-lower-risk-for-common-breast-cancer-by-20-percent#1
While this sounds like a great idea, it is always best to consult your doctor first. I think using aspirin is a great idea, however does daily use of aspirin have complications that outweigh the benefits? Complications include: strokes caused by burst of blood vessels, gastrointestinal bleeding, or allergic reactions if there is an allergy. Also, using aspirin with other medications or dietary supplements can also cause an increase in bleeding. There is clearly a lot of research that still needs to be done to make sure that using aspirin, for things such as preventing or treatment for breast cancer, is safe and that it won't do further harm to the person using aspirin on a daily basis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/daily-aspirin-therapy/art-20046797?pg=2