Aspirin may improve the effectiveness of the latest drugs used in oncology, reports Cell.
Recently used drugs stimulating the immune system to fight cancer are very effective (they improve the condition of patients with advanced disease, and in rare cases even lead to a cure). However, some pathological cells are prevented from being destroyed.
Research by scientists from the Francis Crick Institute has revealed that skin, breast and gastrointestinal cancer cells produce large amounts of prostaglandin E2, which may suppress the immune response.
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin inhibit the formation of prostaglandins. As a result, they make it harder for the tumor to avoid attacks of the immune system.
Studies in mice suggest that aspirin and similar drugs could aid in human cancer immunotherapy, but long-term clinical trials are needed.
Previous research indicates that taking aspirin may prevent at least some cancers. However, this drug is not completely devoid of side effects (it may, for example, cause gastrointestinal bleeding). (PAP)