Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use and risk of bladder cancer in the health professionals follow-up study

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use, particularly aspirin, may lower the risk of several cancers, including bladder. NSAIDs may reduce development of bladder tumors by decreasing inflammation, inhibiting cycloxygenase-2, inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of cancer cells. However, acetaminophen, a major metabolite of phenacetin, may be positively associated with bladder cancer risk. Results from case-control studies on NSAIDs and acetaminophen use and bladder cancer risk are inconsistent. We investigated the association between NSAID and acetaminophen use and bladder cancer risk in a large cohort of US males. Among 49,448 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, 607 bladder cancer cases were confirmed during 18 years of follow-up. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by Cox proportional hazards models. Multivariate RR were adjusted for age, current smoking status, pack years, geographic region and fluid intake. No significant associations were observed for regular aspirin (> or =2 tablets per week), (RR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.83-1.18), ibuprofen (RR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.81-1.54), acetaminophen (RR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.67-1.39) or total NSAID use (not including acetaminophen; RR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.85-1.20) and bladder cancer risk compared with nonuse. Consistent use (over 6 years) of aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and total NSAIDs, compared to nonuse, was not associated with bladder cancer risk. No association was observed between aspirin frequency and dose and bladder cancer risk. We observed no effect-modification by smoking, age or fluid intake. Our results suggest that regular NSAID or acetaminophen use has no substantial impact on bladder cancer risk among men.     

Aspirin and the risk of prostate cancer.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that aspirin may have a protective effect against prostate cancer, but the evidence is still limited and inconsistent. The role of aspirin in prostate cancer risk was analysed in a multicentric case-control study conducted in Italy between 1991 and 2002, including 1261 incident cases of carcinoma of the prostate and 1131 hospital controls. A total of 115 (9.1%) cases versus 90 (8.0%) controls reported regular aspirin use. The multivariate odds ratio (OR) for regular aspirin users was 1.10 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.81-1.50). No relation was found with duration of use (OR = 1.03 for <5 years, and 1.17 for > or =5 years) and time since first use (OR = 1.03 for <10 years, and 1.35 for > or =10 years). These findings do not support a protective role of regular aspirin use on prostate cancer risk.     

Aspirin use and risk of biliary tract cancer: a population-based study in Shanghai, China.

The association of gallbladder and bile duct cancers with gallstones, cholecystitis, and cholangitis suggest that chronic inflammation contributes to the carcinogenic process. However, the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, on biliary tract cancer has not been well studied. In a population-based case-control study conducted in Shanghai, China, we examined the relationship between aspirin use and the risk of biliary disease. A total of 627 patients with biliary tract cancer, including cancers of the gallbladder (n = 368), extrahepatic bile duct (n = 191), and ampulla of Vater (n = 68); 1,037 patients with biliary stones; and 958 healthy adults were included in the study. Self-reported data on aspirin use was collected from study participants by in-person interview. The prevalence of aspirin use was low, with 5.7% of the population controls being regular users. After controlling for age, sex, education, and biliary stone status, aspirin use was associated with a reduced risk of gallbladder cancer [odds ratio (OR), 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17-0.88]. An inverse relationship was also observed for frequency and duration of use and with younger age when starting use. In addition, there was a nonsignificant reduction in the risk of bile duct (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.19-1.19) and ampullary cancers (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.03-1.65) associated with aspirin use, whereas no clear association was seen with biliary stones (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.59-1.44). Further studies of biliary tract cancer in other populations are needed to confirm these results and to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie the reduced risk associated with use of aspirin and possibly other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.     

Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancer incidence in a large U.S. cohort.

Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly aspirin, has consistently been associated with reduced risk of breast cancer in case-control studies. However, results from prospective studies have been less consistent. We examined the association between NSAID use and breast cancer incidence, adjusting for multiple breast cancer risk factors among 77,413 women in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort. During follow-up from 1992 to 2001, we observed 3,008 cases of incident breast cancer. Information on NSAID use was obtained from a questionnaire completed at enrollment in 1992 or 1993 and was updated using follow-up questionnaires in 1997 and 1999. NSAID use was modeled using time-dependent variables to update exposure status. Neither current total NSAID use (aspirin and other NSAIDs combined) nor current aspirin use were associated with breast cancer incidence even at relatively high levels of use [rate ratio (RR), 1.07; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.96-1.21 for > or =60 NSAID pills per month compared with no reported use of NSAIDs; RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.84-1.20 for > or =60 aspirin per month compared with no reported use of aspirin]. Even long-duration regular use (> or =30 pills per month for > or =5 years) was not associated with breast cancer incidence (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.88-1.26 for total NSAIDs; RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.69-1.12 for aspirin). Although we cannot exclude a small reduction in breast cancer risk associated with NSAID use, the results of this study provide evidence against a large reduction in risk.     

Association of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Previous epidemiological studies have suggested that use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer, but some studies have been limited in their ability to separate the effects of aspirin from other NSAIDs or to account for breast cancer risk factors. METHODS: We examined the incidence of breast cancer in association with self-reported aspirin, as well as other nonaspirin NSAID use in a large prospective cohort of postmenopausal women (n = 27,616). Over 6 years of follow-up, 938 incident breast cancers were identified. RESULTS: After adjustment for other breast cancer risk factors, any current use of aspirin or other NSAIDs compared with no use was associated with a reduction in risk of breast cancer [relative risk (RR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67-0.95]. There was a trend of decreasing risk of incident breast cancer with increasing frequency of aspirin use (P(trend) = 0.0011). The multivariate-adjusted RR of breast cancer was 0.71 (95% CI 0.58-0.87) for women who reported using aspirin six or more times per week compared with women who reported no use. These results did not depend on whether women had early or late stage breast cancer. No association was found between nonaspirin NSAID use and incident breast cancer. The adjusted RR of using other NSAIDs six or more times per week compared with no use was 1.01 (95% CI 0.83-1.25). CONCLUSION: This prospective study corroborates other reports that use of aspirin might reduce risk of breast cancer.     

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glioma in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study cohort

Several case-control studies have suggested that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce risk for glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Prospective investigations have not observed such an association, but these studies lacked adequate brain cancer case numbers and did not stratify by histologic subtype. We prospectively investigated the association between NSAID use and risk of all glioma as well as the risk of glioblastoma subtype in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP Diet and Health Study. The frequency of aspirin and nonaspirin NSAID use 1 year prior to baseline was ascertained using a self-administered questionnaire. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox regression models with age as the underlying time metric, adjusted for sex, race, and history of heart disease. The analysis included 302,767 individuals, with 341 incident glioma cases (264 glioblastoma). No association was observed between regular use (>2 times/wk) of aspirin and risk of glioma (HR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.87-1.56) or glioblastoma (HR = 1.17; 95% CI, 0.83-1.64) as compared with no use. Null associations were also observed for nonaspirin NSAID use (HR for glioma = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.65-1.25 and HR for glioblastoma = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.56-1.20) as compared with no use. Our findings from this large prospective study do not support an inverse association between NSAIDs and risk of all glioma or glioblastoma.     

Regular Use of Aspirin and Prostate Cancer Risk (United States)

It has been hypothesized that aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can decrease the risk of developing prostate and other cancers, although observational studies have not been very conclusive. The current study examined the effects of regular aspirin use on prostate cancer risk in 1,029 patients with primary, incident cancer of the prostate and 1,029 hospital controls frequency-matched to cases by 5-year age group and period of questionnaire completion. Patients who reported use of aspirin for at least once a week for at least 6 months were classified as regular users, with others classified as non-users. Results indicate that regular aspirin use may not be associated with decreased prostate cancer risk [odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–1.25], frequency of use (OR for at least seven/week 0.91, 95% CI 0.73–1.13), duration of use (OR for at least 10 years of use 1.17 95% CI 0.93–1.46) or tablet years (defined as tablets per day x years of use). A similar lack of association was observed when analyses were performed examining stage of the cancer. These data suggest that aspirin use may not be associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer.     

Aspirin and lung cancer in women

The association between aspirin use and lung cancer risk in women was examined in a case-control study nested in the New York University Women's Health Study, a large cohort in New York. Case subjects were all the 81 incident lung cancer cases who had provided information about aspirin use at enrollment and during the 1994-1996 follow up. Ten controls per case were randomly selected from among study participants who matched a case by age, menopausal status, and dates of enrollment and follow-up. Relative to no aspirin use, the odds ratio for lung cancer (all histological sub-types combined) among subjects who reported aspirin use three or more times per week for at least 6 months was 0.66 (95% confidence interval 0.34-1.28), after adjustment for smoking and education. A stronger inverse association was observed in analyses restricted to non-small cell lung cancer (adjusted odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.16-0.96). These results suggest that regular aspirin use might be inversely associated with risk of lung cancer in women, particularly the non-small cell sub-type.     

Association of regular aspirin use and breast cancer risk

Of the limited number of epidemiological investigations on aspirin (and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and breast cancer, the majority observe a protective role, yet only a few report dose-response effects for frequency or duration of use. We studied aspirin use among 1,478 breast cancer patients diagnosed from 1982 to 1998, and 3,383 cancer-free hospital controls at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Compared to never use,both regular (> or =1 tablet per week for > or =1 year) and occasional use were inversely associated with breast cancer (adjusted OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.64-0.97; adjusted OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.67-0.96, respectively). Among regular users, an inverse trend was found for number of tablets consumed per week (1, 2-6, or > or =7) with corresponding ORs of 0.95, 0.80, and 0.74 (P(trend) = 0.01). Daily use spanning 10 or more years was associated with a more pronounced reduction in risk (P(trend) = 0.005). Our findings corroborate the growing body of observational evidence that regular aspirin use may be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer.     

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and subsite-specific colorectal cancer incidence in the Iowa women's health study.

BACKGROUND: Previous epidemiologic studies have shown that regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with decreased colorectal cancer risk. However, few studies have examined associations between NSAID use and subsite-specific colorectal cancer risks. Because tumors of the proximal and distal colon differ with respect to their genetic alterations, clinicopathologic features, and demographic distribution, further investigation of subsite-specific colorectal cancer risks may be rewarding. METHODS: Data about aspirin and non-aspirin-NSAID use were recorded by self-report in 1992 among the initially cancer-free cohort of postmenopausal women in the Iowa Women's Health Study (n = 27,160). In total, 637 women developed colorectal cancer during the 11 years of follow-up, including 365 proximal colon, 132 distal colon, and 120 rectal cancer cases (11 overlapping and 9 not specified). RESULTS: For colon cancer, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for women reporting use of aspirin two to five times and six or more times weekly (compared with nonusers of aspirin) were 0.79 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.59-1.04] and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.58-1.00), respectively. The corresponding HRs for non-aspirin NSAIDs were 0.63 (95% CI, 0.41-0.96) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.63-1.15), respectively. For proximal colon cancer, the multivariable-adjusted HRs for women reporting use of aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs two or more times weekly (compared with nonusers of each) were 0.67 (95% CI, 0.51-0.87) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.52-0.97), respectively. No statistically significant association was found between either distal colon or rectal cancer and aspirin or non-aspirin NSAID use. DISCUSSION: Our study is consistent with a limited number of prior reports that have observed stronger associations between NSAID use and proximal versus distal colorectal cancer.     

Breast cancer and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: prospective results from the Women's Health Initiative

We analyzed data from the prospective Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study to examine the effects of regular use of aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on breast cancer risk. We studied a population of 80,741 postmenopausal women between 50 and 79 years of age who reported no history of breast cancer or other cancers (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer), and we completed a personal baseline interview that elicited comprehensive health information including data on breast cancer risk factors and NSAID use. All of the cases were adjudicated by WHI physicians using pathology reports. Our analysis was based on 1392 confirmed cases of breast cancer. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with adjustment for age and other breast cancer risk factors. Regular NSAID use (two or more tablets/week) for 5-9 years produced a 21% reduction in the incidence of breast cancer (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.60-1.04); regular NSAID use for 10 or more years produced a 28% reduction (RR, 0.72; CI, 0.56-0.91), and there was a statistically significant inverse linear trend of breast cancer incidence with the duration of NSAID use (P < 0.01). The estimated risk reduction for long-term use of ibuprofen (RR, 0.51; CI, 0.28-0.96) was greater than for aspirin (RR, 0.79; CI, 0.60-1.03). Subgroup analysis by breast cancer risk factors did not result in effect modification. Regular use of acetaminophen (an analgesic agent with little or no anti-inflammatory activity) or low-dose aspirin (<100 mg) was unrelated to the incidence of breast cancer. Our results indicate that the regular use of aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs may have a significant chemopreventive effect against the development of breast cancer and underscore the need for clinical trials to confirm this effect.     

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and small cell lung cancer risk in the VITAL study

Few studies have examined the association between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and risk of small cell lung cancer (SCLC); among them, findings are mixed. Recently, we found that use of NSAIDs was differentially associated with lung cancer risk by histology. Here, we examine, more comprehensively, the association between individual NSAIDs and SCLC risk. 75,546 residents of western Washington State, ages 50-76, completed a baseline questionnaire in 2000-2002 and reported on their use of individual NSAIDs over the past 10 years. NSAID use was categorized as non-users, low (<4 days/week or <4 years), and high (≥4 days/week and ≥4 years). 111 SCLC were identified through linkage to a population-based cancer registry. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models including strong adjustment for smoking were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Compared to non-use, high use of regular-strength aspirin was associated with an elevated risk of SCLC (HR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.05-3.02; P-trend=0.03). Findings for low-dose aspirin were elevated but did not reach statistical significance. Use of non-aspirin NSAIDs was not associated with SCLC risk. Our findings provide further indication of heterogeneity in the association between aspirin and lung cancer morphologies. Large, prospective studies with comprehensive assessments of NSAID use and smoking history and data on both men and women, are needed in order to better understand the association between use of aspirin and SCLC.     

Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), including aspirin, and risk of pancreatic cancer is controversial. We did a meta-analysis to summarize available evidence from epidemiologic studies investigating the relation between use of aspirin or other NSAIDs and the risk of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We identified potential studies by searching the MEDLINE database (from 1966 to October 2006) and by reviewing the reference lists of pertinent publications. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: (a) had a case-control or prospective design, (b) examined exposure to aspirin or NSAIDs, (c) the outcome was pancreatic cancer incidence or mortality, and (d) they provided a relative risk (RR) estimate with corresponding confidence interval or sufficient information to permit their calculation. Study-specific RR estimates were pooled using a random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies (3 case-control studies, 7 cohort studies, and 1 randomized trial), involving 6,386 pancreatic cancer cases, was included in the meta-analysis. The summary RR estimate did not indicate any association between aspirin/NSAID use and risk of pancreatic cancer [any/regular use versus nonregular/never use: RR, 1.01; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.91-1.11; P(heterogeneity) = 0.09]. Neither use of aspirin, nonaspirin NSAIDs, nor overall NSAIDs were associated with pancreatic cancer risk. There was also no overall association with frequent (six or more tablets/times per week versus none: RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.61-1.23) or long-term (>or=20 years) use of aspirin (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.74-1.96). CONCLUSIONS: Current epidemiologic evidence does not indicate that use of aspirin or NSAIDs is associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer.     

Medication use and risk of ovarian carcinoma: a prospective study

Inflammation and gonadotropins are hypothesized to influence ovarian carcinogenesis. In a prospective study, we evaluated ovarian cancer risk associated with self-reported use of medications that influence inflammation or gonadotropin levels. The Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project Follow-Up Study enrolled 61,431 women in 1979 and used telephone interviews and 3 mailed questionnaires through 1998 to update risk factor information and identify incident ovarian cancers. The 1992-95 questionnaire ascertained medication use, including duration and frequency of use for aspirin, acetaminophen, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tranquilizers and histamine-receptor antagonists. A Poisson regression analysis generated rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the 31,364 women who were at risk of ovarian cancer and responded to the questionnaire that queried regular medication use. One hundred sixteen women developed ovarian cancer during follow-up. None of the anti-inflammatory medications was associated with ovarian cancer, but the RR for more than 1 aspirin per day for 1 year or longer was 0.56 (95% CI 0.20-1.5) and the RR for more than 5 years of regular "other NSAID" use was 2.0 (95% CI 0.95-4.2). Regular tranquilizer use was not associated with ovarian cancer, but histamine-receptor antagonists used regularly for more than 5 years (RR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.4-9.1) or more than once daily (RR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.5-6.5) appeared to increase risk. In our study, neither anti-inflammatory medications nor anti-psychotic medications were associated with ovarian cancer. Potential associations with histamine-receptor antagonists may warrant further study.     

Risk factors for fatal colon cancer in a large prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Diet, physical activity, obesity, aspirin use, and family history may all modify the risk of colon cancer, but few epidemiologic studies are large enough to examine these factors simultaneously. PURPOSE: We prospectively assessed the relationship of diet and other factors to risk of fatal colon cancer. METHODS: Using data from Cancer Prevention Study II--an ongoing prospective mortality study--we studied 764,343 adults who, in 1982, completed a questionnaire on diet and other risk factors and did not report cancer or other major illness. We assessed mortality through August 1988 and identified 1150 deaths from colon cancer (611 men and 539 women). Multivariate analyses were used to compare these case patients with 5746 matched control subjects drawn from the cohort. RESULTS: Risk of fatal colon cancer decreased with more frequent consumption of vegetables and high-fiber grains (P for trend = .031 in men and .0012 in women). The relative risk (RR) for the highest versus lowest quintile of vegetable intake was 0.76 in men (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57-1.02) and 0.62 in women (95% CI = 0.45-0.86). Dietary consumption of vegetables and grains and regular use of aspirin were the only factors having an independent and statistically significant association with fatal colon cancer. Participants who consumed the least vegetables and grains and no aspirin had a higher risk compared with those who consumed the most vegetables and used aspirin 16 or more times per month. For men in the former category, the RR was 2.4 (95% CI = 1.1-5.3); for women, it was 2.9 (95% CI = 1.3-6.7). Weaker associations were seen for physical inactivity, obesity, total dietary fat, and family history. No associations were seen with consumption of red meat or total or saturated fat in either sex, but this finding must be interpreted cautiously. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support recommendations that increased consumption of vegetables and grains may reduce the risk of fatal colon cancer. Regular use of low doses of aspirin may prove to be an important supplemental measure.     

Aspirin protects against gastric cancer: results of a case-control study from Moscow, Russia.

A case-control study of stomach cancer which includes 448 cases and 610 hospital controls has been conducted in Moscow, Russia. Information on life-style habits, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, medical history and use of different medications including aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Venous blood was drawn from 361 cases and 441 controls. A serological test for Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G was performed to detect infected individuals. Use of aspirin and other NSAIDs was associated with protection against cancer of the stomach (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.41-0.90). Analysis by subsite revealed that aspirin did not affect the risk of cancer of the gastric cardia but had a protective effect for non-cardia gastric cancer. The OR associated with use of aspirin adjusted for age and education for both sexes combined was 0.49 (95% CI 0.31-0.77). A decrease in relative risk was statistically significant for men (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.25-0.92) and women (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.28-0.97). Controlling for major risk factors did not attenuate the reduction in risk. The observed associations were also present in individuals who were H. pylori immunoglobulin G-positive. There was no reduction in risk associated with aspirin and/or non-aspirin NSAIDs among non-infected subjects.     

Regular adult aspirin use decreases the risk of non-small cell lung cancer among women.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies indicate that use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) is associated with a decreased risk of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, results have been contradictory in part because of variation in study design. Few studies have examined the use of aspirin or other NSAIDs on risk of NSCLC in women. METHODS: Through a case-control study of African American and Caucasian women with and without NSCLC, we examined the relationship between use of aspirin, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen and risk of NSCLC. Risk was estimated by calculating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for ever/never use, duration of use, and duration of use category (never, 1-5 years, >5 years) after adjusting for major risk factors for lung cancer. Risk estimates were stratified by race, age, smoking history, and body mass index. RESULTS: Every use of adult-strength aspirin was associated with a significant reduction in risk of NSCLC (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.94). Additionally, there was a significant trend toward a reduced risk of NSCLC in adult-strength aspirin users with increasing duration of use (P(trend) = 0.02). In stratified analyses, aspirin use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of lung cancer among Caucasians and 55- to 64-year-olds. Baby aspirin and NSAID use was associated with a significant reduction in risk of NSCLC only among 65- to 74-year-olds. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that long-term use of adult-strength aspirin may reduce the risk of NSCLC in women.     

NSAIDs and breast cancer recurrence in a prospective cohort study

Objective We examined the association between NSAID use and breast cancer recurrence in a prospective cohort of 2,292 early-stage breast cancer survivors diagnosed from 1997 to 2000 participating in the Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) Study. Methods From 2000 to 2002, mailed questionnaires were used to obtain information on aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAID use and subsequent breast cancer events. A total of 270 recurrences (local, regional, and distant disease and new primary breast cancers) were reported and verified by medical record review. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for age at diagnosis, race, cancer stage, tamoxifen treatment, chemotherapy use, body mass index, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibitor use. Results Current, regular use (at least three days per week at time of questionnaire administration) of ibuprofen (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.32–0.98), but not aspirin (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.74–1.61), was associated with a statistically significant decreased risk of breast cancer recurrence. The combination of ibuprofen and other non-aspirin NSAIDs such as naproxen and sulindac reflected a similar reduction in risk (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33–0.95). No association was found for the non-NSAID analgesic acetaminophen. Conclusion Our findings provide support for an inverse association between current, regular ibuprofen use and breast cancer recurrence.     

Risk of lung carcinoma among users of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs

BACKGROUND: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the development of lung tumors in experimental animals. To the authors' knowledge there are little data regarding whether regular use of NSAIDs reduces the risk of developing lung carcinoma in humans. METHODS: The association between lung carcinoma risk and regular use of NSAIDs, including aspirin, was evaluated in a hospital-based case-control study of 1038 patients and 1002 controls. RESULTS: The relative risk estimate of lung carcinoma associated with using NSAIDs 3 times a week or more for 1 or more years demonstrated an odds ratio (OR) of 0.68 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.53-0.89). Results were similar when separated by lung histologic type. The association varied by smoking status. The OR was 1.28 (95% CI, 0.73-2.25) in never-smokers and 0.60 (95% CI 0.45-0.80) in ever-smokers. The smoking-specific risk estimates for aspirin were similar to those for all NSAIDs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest a possible chemoprotective benefit with the use of NSAIDs among individuals who are former or current smokers.     

Regular analgesic use and risk of endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Analgesic use has been implicated in the chemoprevention of a number of solid tumors, but thus far, no previous research has focused on the role of aspirin in endometrial cancer etiology.METHODS: We conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 427 women with primary, incident endometrial cancer, and 427 age- and residence-matched controls without benign or malignant neoplasms. All participants received medical services at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, and completed a comprehensive epidemiologic questionnaire. Women who reported analgesic use at least once a week for at least 6 months were classified as regular users and served as the reference group throughout the analyses. We used unconditional logistic regression analyses to compute crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).RESULTS: Compared with nonusers, regular aspirin users were not at reduced risk of endometrial cancer (adjusted OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.66-1.26), nor were women with the highest frequency, duration, or cumulative lifetime aspirin use. When the sample was divided by body mass index status, regular aspirin use was not associated with risk among women classified as normal weight or overweight, but a significant risk reduction was seen for obese women (adjusted OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.27-0.92). Significant decreases in risk were also observed for obese women with the greatest frequency, duration, and cumulative aspirin use. No significant associations in the overall sample or among obese women were noted for acetaminophen use.CONCLUSION: We observed no evidence of an overall chemoprotective effect of aspirin on endometrial cancer risk, but the significant risk reductions among obese women warrant further investigation.