Overview
- The JAMA Oncology analysis combining ASPREE and its post-trial extension found no reduction in overall cancer incidence when aspirin was initiated in older age.
- Participants assigned to 100 mg daily aspirin had about 15% higher cancer-related mortality during the randomized phase, a difference that did not persist after treatment stopped.
- The binational cohort included community-dwelling adults in Australia and the United States who were free of prior cardiovascular events, dementia, or major disability at enrollment, with a median follow-up of 8.6 years.
- Investigators say older adults should not start low-dose aspirin solely for cancer prevention and should discuss personalized cancer risk strategies with their clinicians.
- Exploratory observations, including a possible melanoma signal and questions about cancer stage at diagnosis, remain uncertain and warrant further study.