Karolinska Institutet researchers find low-dose aspirin halves colorectal cancer recurrence in genetically defined patients
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · Apr 25
Karolinska Institutet researchers find low-dose aspirin halves colorectal cancer recurrence in genetically defined patients
8 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · Apr 25
The ALASCCA trial enrolled over 3,500 patients across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, targeting those with PI3K pathway mutations after surgery.
Aspirin reduced recurrence to 7.7% versus up to 16.8% for placebo, with 89% of aspirin-treated patients cancer-free at three years, though severe side effects occurred in 16.8% of aspirin users.
The findings highlight aspirin’s potential as an accessible, affordable precision medicine for select colorectal cancer patients, supporting genetic testing to personalize treatment and improve global cancer care outcomes.
Sweden now uses genetic tests to prescribe aspirin for cancer. Why is this breakthrough not yet standard worldwide?
If aspirin targets a key mutation in colorectal cancer, could it also become a weapon against breast cancer?
Aspirin can now fight cancer, but only for some. How do you find out if it will work for you?
The future of cancer care is here, but what hurdles prevent routine genetic testing for every patient?
What is the secret mechanism that allows common aspirin to destroy specific cancer cells after surgery?
Precision Medicine Breakthrough: Aspirin Reduces Colorectal Cancer Recurrence by Nearly 50% in Genetic Subgroup
Overview
The 2026 ALASCCA trial showed that low-dose aspirin significantly reduces cancer recurrence in colorectal cancer patients with PIK3CA mutations by disrupting a harmful feedback loop in the PI3K signaling pathway. Aspirin inhibits COX-2, lowering prostaglandin E2 levels, and directly blocks key proteins in the pathway, triggering cancer cell death. This targeted approach nearly halved recurrence risk and improved survival, leading to new clinical guidelines recommending aspirin for mutation-positive patients after surgery. However, aspirin increases the risk of severe side effects, including bleeding, requiring careful patient selection and monitoring. Experts view aspirin as an affordable precision therapy with promising clinical and economic benefits.