New research from the National Institutes of Health suggests women who take a daily low-dose aspirin may reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by 20 percent.
Previous research looking at the link between anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of ovarian cancer has been inconclusive. The National Cancer Institute analyzed data from 12 large studies that were part of the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium. The data included 7,776 women who had ovarian cancer and 11,843 women who did not.
Researchers found that women who took a daily low-dose (less than 100 mg) aspirin had a 20 percent reduced risk of ovarian cancer compared to women who used aspirin less than one time a week, reported Medical News Today. However, researchers suggest individuals follow the guidance of their doctor for aspirin use.
“However intriguing our results are, they should not influence current clinical practice,” study co-author Britton Trabert, of the division of cancer epidemiology and genetics at the National Cancer Institute said. “Additional studies are needed to explore the delicate balance of risk-benefit for this potential chemopreventive agent, as well as studies to identify the mechanism by which aspirin may reduce ovarian cancer risk."
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