Aspirin cuts pancreatic cancer risk in people with diabetes, study finds
A Southampton study has shown that people with diabetes who take aspirin regularly are much less likely to develop pancreatic cancer.
The risk reduction was 40% for people with diabetes – and also 20% in the general population.
Pancreatic cancer has poor long-term survival rates. Unlike many other cancers, detection and cure rates have not improved in the last 40 years.
The new discovery has been hailed as a ‘significant finding’ by experts.
The study was led by Dr Zaed Hamady at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). It was funded by Southampton’s PLANETS Cancer Charity.
Results are published in the journal Pancreatology.
Role of aspirin
Aspirin is a cheap and widely available anti-inflammatory drug. It is commonly used for pain relief.
Aspirin can also be used help prevent heart attacks, stroke and blood clots. This is due to its blood-thinning effects.
Previous research has shown aspirin can block the production of enzymes that increase inflammation in the body and fuel the growth of cancer cells.
People over 50 who develop new-onset diabetes are up to ten times more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The reasons for this link are unclear. However, both are diseases of the pancreas and involve intolerance to sugar.
The most common form, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (PDAC), has the lowest survival rate of any cancer. It is usually detected at an advanced stage, with five-year survival at just 5%.
‘Very significant’
This study involved 10,000 people from the UK Biobank, a database of genetic and health information from half a million UK participants.
Researchers found the risk of developing pancreatic cancer was 40% lower in people with diabetes who took aspirin on a regular basis. It reduced by 20% among the general population.
The study showed the risk reduction remained the case at two years and five years from recruitment into the study.
Dr Hamady is a Consultant Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Robotic Surgeon at UHS and part of the PLANETS clinical team. He said:
“Almost everyone affected by pancreatic cancer will die within five years of their diagnosis. Long-term survival is limited to those diagnosed with early-stage disease suitable for curative surgery.
“The trend of pancreatic cancer is increasing in the UK, as well as worldwide, in a similar way to other cancers. We know there is a particular association between diabetes and pancreatic cancer.”
The Southampton study is believed to be the largest to examine the association of aspirin and PDAC. It is the first to show regular aspirin use is associated with a reduced risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Dr Hamady added: “This large study demonstrates that commonly used aspirin, which is traditionally associated with reducing the risk of heart attacks or heart complications, can prevent the development of pancreatic cancer.
“What is more striking is that the preventative effect is stronger in people with diabetes. Given the association of diabetes with pancreatic cancer risk and the associated poor outcomes for everyone affected, this is a very significant finding.”
Predicting risk
The research team have developed a secondary screening programme to help identify which patients with diabetes are at higher risk of developing cancer.
They are also identifying genetic patterns that predict people’s likelihood of pancreatic cancer.
Last year, they combined genetic data with information on a person’s symptoms, lifestyle and medical history. They used a computer model to identify what factors were most likely to increase a person’s risk of developing the cancer.
Hampshire-based PLANETS is a charity which helps patients with pancreatic, liver, colorectal, abdominal (oesophageal and gastric) and neuroendocrine (NET) cancers. It funds patient support groups, innovative treatments and research.
Image credit: Dr Zaed Hamady, PLANETS charity