Nitroaspirin Seen to Ward Off Colon Cancer

A potent form of aspirin called nitroaspirin may be beneficial in helping to prevent colon cancer, researchers said Tuesday.

Dr. Basil Rigas, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Cancer Prevention at Stony Brook University’s School of Medicine, reported the finding during the third annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research in Seattle.

Studies in cell culture and animals have shown that this new aspirin is hundreds to thousands of times more potent than traditional aspirin in inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells and quite effective in preventing the development of colon cancer in laboratory animals, said Rigas.

While traditional aspirin has been shown to be effective in clinical trials in preventing certain cancers in about 50 percent of cases, it also is associated with significant side effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, and sometimes fatal allergic reactions.

Rigas and his colleagues hope to begin human trials on the nitric oxide-donating aspirin by the end of the year.