Aspirin is associated with improved survival in melanoma patients

This study investigated if aspirin is associated with increased survival in melanoma patients. Researchers suggested that aspirin improves survival in melanoma patients.

Skin melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the United States. New treatments, such as immunotherapy, have improved melanoma outcomes when compared to chemotherapy. However, new treatments are still needed.

Prior studies showed that aspirin in combination with immunotherapy improves survival in colorectal cancer. Moreover, aspirin showed a protective effect against other cancers. However, the effect of aspirin in melanoma is yet not known. 

This study investigated whether aspirin is associated with longer survival in melanoma patients.

This study included information about 1522 patients with melanoma. Patients were diagnosed between 2000 and 2014, and records were followed through the end of 2016.

Patients receiving aspirin had a 58% improvement in the odds of a better survival. Aspirin was associated with better survival of patients with stage 2 and stage 3 melanoma. No differences were seen in patients with stage 1 and 4 melanoma.

Patients using aspirin before diagnosis were less likely to be diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 melanoma.  

This study suggested that aspirin is associated with an improved survival in melanoma patients.

Talk to your doctor before beginning treatment with aspirin.