Not just for headaches: Aspirin use during pre-surgery chemoradiation in rectal cancer

This study investigated whether aspirin has an effect against rectal cancer during pre-surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT). Researchers reported that the use of aspirin is associated with a better outcome and survival.

Pre-surgery CRT has been shown to improve the rate of local recurrences (when the cancer comes back) in advanced cancers. However, the response rate to these treatments varies between different patients. As a consequence, other methods have been tried to improve the response rate. Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs have been described as associated with better outcomes in colorectal cancer. It is not clear whether it has an effect during pre-surgery CRT.

This study included information about 241 patients with stage 2 and 3 rectal cancer undergoing CRT before surgery. The average follow-up period was 37 months. Progression-free survival (PFS; time to disease progression) and overall survival (OS; time from treatment to death by any cause) were measured.

Aspirin was associated with an 86.6% 5-year PFS rate, compared to 67.1% in those who were not treated with aspirin. Aspirin was also associated with a 90.6% 5-year OS rate, compared to 73.2% for those not treated. 67.6% of patients treated with aspirin had their tumors downstaged (decrease in severity), compared to 43.6% of those not treated.

Patients treated with aspirin were 70% less likely to have their cancer spread. Aspirin use did not have an effect on local recurrences.

This study determined that the use of aspirin in rectal cancer patients undergoing CRT before surgery is associated with better tumor response.