Aspirin Reduces Ovarian Cancer Rates for Those at Higher Genetic Risk

According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, regular aspirin use lowers the incidence of nonmucinous ovarian cancer despite the majority of hereditary risk factors. For people with genetic risk factors below and above the median, regular aspirin usage was associated with a lower incidence of ovarian cancer. The greatest risk decreases were seen in patients with endometrioid and high-grade serous cancers.

To evaluate the relationship between frequent aspirin usage and ovarian cancer risk, researchers from the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. pooled analysis of eight prior case-control studies from the Ovarian Cancer Association Collaboration. Self-reported daily or nearly daily aspirin use for six months or more was considered to be frequent aspirin use. Only participants from the eight trials with genetic data were analyzed.

The investigation comprised 4,476 nonmucinous ovarian cancer patients and 6,659 control participants. 1,030 control participants and 575 patients both admitted to regularly taking aspirin. The patient’s polygenic risk score (PGS), a risk score based on known genetic correlations to the disease, was unaffected by the 13% reduction in ovarian cancer risk linked with frequent aspirin use.

The investigation found no evidence of a decreased risk associated with aspirin use in people with a PGS higher than the 80th percentile, the greatest genetic risk category.

Although the study was unable to confirm a risk reduction, a reduction, even by 13%, could be occurring for these individuals as well. As a result, the researchers point out that this group fell outside the statistical confidence index of the data interrogation’s 95% CI. This means that while the study was unable to confirm a risk reduction, it should not be regarded as a null result but rather as an area needing further research.

The researchers emphasize that aspirin use can result in major side events, such as hemorrhagic stroke and gastrointestinal ulcers. The American Cancer Society estimates that just 1.3% of women in the general population get ovarian cancer, and frequent aspirin use is not advised as a prophylactic measure for all women. The benefit-harm risk profile of regular aspirin usage may be improved by aspirin use specifically helping those with higher ovarian cancer PGS scores, according to the study.

Source Link