John Burn's team finds low-dose aspirin halves colorectal cancer risk in high-risk patients
Updated
Updated · Tyla · Apr 24
John Burn's team finds low-dose aspirin halves colorectal cancer risk in high-risk patients
13 articles · Updated · Tyla · Apr 24
A decade-long trial of 861 Lynch Syndrome patients showed those taking daily 600mg aspirin for two years halved their colorectal cancer risk, with new evidence suggesting 75-100mg may be equally effective.
UK guidelines now recommend people with Lynch Syndrome start aspirin at age 20, and a second trial's promising results are under peer review. Aspirin's benefits are being considered in medical guidelines worldwide.
While aspirin may reduce cancer spread and improve survival, risks like internal bleeding remain, so patients should consult doctors before use. More research is needed to clarify benefits for other cancer types.
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CaPP3 Trial Confirms Low-Dose Aspirin Halves Colorectal Cancer Risk in Lynch Syndrome
Overview
The CaPP3 trial in June 2025 showed that low-dose aspirin (75-100 mg daily) halves colorectal cancer risk in people with Lynch syndrome, matching the effectiveness of higher doses but with far fewer side effects. This breakthrough builds on earlier findings that high-dose aspirin reduces cancer risk but causes safety concerns. Aspirin works by blocking COX enzymes, with low doses targeting platelet COX-1 to reduce early tumor-promoting inflammation. Guidelines now recommend starting low-dose aspirin years before colonoscopy surveillance and continuing for at least five years. Despite clear benefits, aspirin use remains low due to side effect worries, highlighting the need for better patient education and future research into optimized dosing and new preventive vaccines.