Low-Dose Aspirin Cuts Cancer Risk in 1,900 Lynch Syndrome Patients

Recent research has demonstrated that low doses of daily aspirin, as low as 75-100mg, effectively reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition that significantly increases cancer risk. The Cancer Prevention Project 3 (CaPP3) trial involving nearly 1,900 participants found that these smaller doses offer comparable protection to higher doses with fewer side effects, addressing concerns that previously limited aspirin use. Notably, Professor Sir John Burn and participants like Nick James, the first recruit to the trial, have advocated for regulatory approval to prescribe low-dose aspirin for this high-risk group. Additionally, the phase III ALASCCA trial revealed that three years of adjuvant daily aspirin reduced colorectal cancer recurrence by over 50% in patients with specific PI3K pathway mutations, highlighting aspirin's potential in targeted cancer therapy. Despite these findings, uptake remains low, with only about one-third of Lynch syndrome patients currently taking aspirin, partly due to lack of awareness and concerns over side effects. Experts urge increased genetic testing, better physician education, and wider aspirin prescription to leverage this simple, cost-effective preventive strategy for those at elevated risk.