Reassessing Aspirin's Role in Breast Cancer Treatment: Insights from Latest Trial Findings

The latest findings from a phase 3 trial challenge the effectiveness of aspirin as adjuvant therapy for nonmetastatic breast cancer. Lead researcher Dr. Wendy Y. Chen and her team from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston found that aspirin did not provide any protective benefits against cancer recurrence or overall survival.

Previous studies had hinted at aspirin's potential in breast cancer treatment, citing its anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet properties. However, the trial results, published in JAMA, cast doubt on these claims. Despite encouraging data from observational studies and cardiovascular trials, the trial failed to show any significant improvement in outcomes for breast cancer patients.

The trial, known as Alliance A011502, involved over 3000 patients with ERBB2-negative breast cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either aspirin or a placebo for a period of five years. After nearly three years of follow-up, the trial was halted prematurely due to lack of efficacy.

Dr. Jeanne S. Mandelblatt from the Georgetown Lombardi Institute for Cancer and Aging Research noted that these findings could create challenges for healthcare providers, who may struggle to communicate the negative results to patients. Moreover, the trial's limited diversity raises concerns about health equity and the potential exclusion of certain groups who may benefit from aspirin therapy.

Moving forward, future research should consider the intersectionality of aging, cancer, and disparities in designing clinical trials to advance health equity.

This study was supported by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program and the National Cancer Institute. Researchers disclosed relationships with various pharmaceutical companies.