NSAIDs may curb risk of cancer of the esophagus

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – The use of aspirin and other
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appears to reduce
the risk of cancerous progression in patients with Barrett’s
esophagus — a condition in which cells that line the esophagus
become abnormal that may be a precursor to cancer.

In The Lancet Oncology, published online on November 8,
researchers note that previous studies have suggested that
NSAIDs prevent the development of colorectal cancer. They
suggest that these drugs may play a similar role in lowering
the risk of esophageal cancer.

To test this theory, Dr. Thomas L. Vaughan, from the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and his
associates prospectively followed 350 participants in the
Seattle Barrett’s esophagus project, for which baseline and
follow-up assessments were performed between 1995 and 2003.

Interviews with the subjects established that 128 regularly
used NSAIDs at baseline, while 74 reported having regularly
used NSAIDs 1 year before the baseline interview.

The 5-year cumulative incidence of a type of cancer of the
esophagus known as esophageal adenocarcinoma was highest (14.3
percent) for never users of NSAIDs and lowest (6.6 percent) for
current users at baseline. The incidence of this type of cancer
of the esophagus was 9.7 percent for former users of NSAIDs.

The finding that current users are more protected than
previous users suggests to the team that “any protective
effects are short term and disappear fairly quickly after
discontinuation of use, as seems to occur in colorectal
neoplasia.”

The authors advise clinical trials be performed before
NSAID use is recommended for protection against esophageal
cancer.

SOURCE: The Lancet Oncology, online November 8, 2005.