A groundbreaking study reveals that aspirin may play a crucial role in preventing cancer metastasis by enhancing immune response. This discovery comes as an increasing number of individuals face cancer diagnoses at some stage in their lives, with more than 90% of cancer deaths occurring after the disease spreads to other parts of the body. Researchers have found that aspirin can hinder this spread by decreasing thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and releasing T cells from suppression, thus enabling the immune system to attack metastatic cancer cells.
Aspirin's effect was studied in mice, where it acted on platelets, reducing their production of TXA2, a clotting factor known to suppress immune T cells. This inhibition is significant because it allows T cells to function properly and target cancer cells, potentially limiting their spread. The research team had previously identified 15 genes in mice that influence cancer metastasis, highlighting the complexity of the disease and the potential pathways for intervention.
The findings hold promise, especially as aspirin is already commonly used in low doses to reduce the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes by inhibiting TXA2 production. This presents a unique therapeutic window of opportunity where cancer cells are particularly susceptible to immune attacks.
“When cancer first spreads there’s a unique therapeutic window of opportunity when cancer cells are particularly vulnerable to immune attack. We hope that therapies that target this window of vulnerability will have tremendous scope in preventing recurrence in patients with early cancer at risk of recurrence.” – Nilesh Vora, MD
In addition to TXA2 suppression, the study discovered that ARHGEF1, a protein that suppresses T cells, plays a role in cancer metastasis. Mice lacking the gene responsible for producing ARHGEF1 showed less metastasis in primary cancers affecting the lungs and liver. This points to the potential for developing targeted therapies that could enhance T cell activity and reduce metastatic progress.
“It was a eureka moment when we found TXA2 was the molecular signal that activates this suppressive effect on T cells,” – Jie Yang, PhD
Researchers are now collaborating with Ruth Langley, MD, to investigate whether aspirin can prevent or delay the recurrence of early-stage cancers. Clinical trials are necessary to validate these findings and determine aspirin's effectiveness in human patients.
“In a small proportion of people, aspirin can cause serious side-effects, including bleeding or stomach ulcers. Therefore, it is important to understand which people with cancer are likely to benefit and always talk to your doctor before starting aspirin,” – Ruth Langley, MD
Despite these side effects, aspirin's potential benefits for cancer patients could be substantial. In Wales and England, half of those diagnosed with any type of cancer survive for at least ten years post-diagnosis. The survival rate is even higher for more common cancers, underscoring the importance of innovative treatments that can improve outcomes for patients facing metastatic disease.
“It generates a valid hypothesis on how to prevent cancer recurrence and spread, using a very easy to provide intervention for patients. The key part of this article is: Aspirin prevents cancers from spreading by decreasing TXA2 and releasing T cells from suppression.” – Nilesh Vora, MD
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