There has been data suggesting taking aspirin daily can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer or developing a recurrence from breast cancer. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory medication and it is thought that chronic inflammation can lead to cancer. Inflammation is an important part of our immune system’s response to sickness, injury, or disease. However, chronic inflammation can create an environment in our bodies where cancer can grow. Several studies have suggested that taking aspirin (or other anti-inflammatory medicines) daily may protect you from developing cancer but not all studies agree with this conclusion. Due to the mixed data regarding aspirin’s protective effects against cancer, a recent study considered whether this inconsistency could be due to a specific finding, DNA methylation.
A study was published this week in the journal Cancer looking at aspirin use, breast cancer, and DNA methylation. This study looked at over 1,200 women who had breast cancer and took aspirin prior to their diagnosis. This looked at two different populations, women with with breast cancer without a genetic mutation in BRCA1 gene and women with breast cancer that also had a genetic mutation in the BRCA-1 gene mutation which methylates the gene which is usually unmethylated (this is a hereditary genetic mutation that increases the risk of developing breast and other cancers). The individuals who took aspirin and carried the mutation in BRCA1 gene (which methylates the gene) had a higher risk of dying from breast cancer. However, breast cancer survivors with the unmethylated BRCA-1 gene mutation (general population), progesterone receptor gene, and also those with long interspersed elements-1 global hypermethylation had a reduced risk of dying if they took aspirin prior to their diagnosis.
This study is the first to look at DNA methylation and breast cancer. Methylation is defined as adding methyl group to something (such as the BRCA gene) and this process can “turn on” certain genetic activity in the DNA. Methylation has different function and can cause cell death, cell damage or even cellular repair. The study proposes that certain methylated genes may interact with aspirin and influence mortality.
Bottom Line: This study is important because it might explain why aspirin hasn’t consistently been shown to be protective against cancers. More studies need to be done to have conclusive evidence. As such, it is not yet recommended to take an aspirin daily to reduce your risk of cancer.