Higher Aspirin Doses May Cut Prostate Cancer Mortality

Men who take aspirin doses above 75 mg have a significantly reduced risk of death from prostate cancer (PCa) compared with men who do not take aspirin, according to a recent study. The risk is not reduced in men taking lower doses.

Irish researchers led by T. Ian Barron PhD, of the University of Dublin identified 2,936 men diagnosed with localized PCa, of whom 1,131 were aspirin users. Patients were followed up for a median of 5.5 years. In adjusted analyses, aspirin use overall was associated with a non-significant 12% decreased risk of PCa-specific mortality compared with non-use, the researchers reported in the Annals of Oncology (2014;25:154-159). When stratified by dose, men taking aspirin doses greater than 75 mg had a significant 39% decreased risk of PCa-specific mortality compared with men not taking aspirin.

Dr. Barron’s group defined men as aspirin users if they had a supply of aspirin available in the year before PCa diagnosis.

From the February 01, 2014 Issue of Renal and Urology News