11 March 2025

Aspirin May Help Prevent Cancer Spread by Boosting Immune Response

Around half of all people will receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives, typically in their later years. Cancer is most treatable when it remains confined to its original location, but it can become more dangerous if cancer cells break away and spread to other parts of the body.

Researchers investigating cancer metastasis have found that aspirin may help prevent the spread of cancer by enhancing the body's immune response. In a study conducted on mice, aspirin enabled immune cells to eliminate migrating cancer cells more effectively. Ongoing human research aims to determine whether aspirin or similar drugs could help delay or prevent cancer recurrence.

According to Cancer Research UK, half of those diagnosed with cancer in Wales and England survive at least 10 years post-diagnosis, with even higher survival rates for common cancers. Data from 2013-2017 shows that over 75% of individuals diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer in England were still alive a decade later.

Early detection plays a crucial role in successful treatment, as more than 90% of cancer-related deaths occur after the disease has metastasized. Now, scientists from the University of Cambridge have identified how aspirin, an inexpensive and widely available medication, might help prevent the spread of certain cancers.

Published in Nature, the study found that aspirin affects platelets—the small blood cells responsible for clotting—by reducing their production of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), a clotting factor that suppresses immune T cells. With lower TXA2 levels, T cells are better able to attack and destroy cancer cells attempting to spread.