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Aspirin could check tumor growth
06/Oct/2006: Researchers from Institute of Genetics, University of Newcastle, UK, have found that aspirin could arrest tumor growth by stopping the formation of blood vessels, which feeds the tumor.
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is used as an analgesic (pain reliever), antipyretic (to reduce fever) and anti-inflammatory drug. Aspirin is also used in low-doses to prevent heart attacks, because of its anticoagulant properties.
Earlier studies have shown that aspirin could be used in the fight against cancer, but they could not explain the mechanisms behind it. Researcher of this study wanted to uncover the mechanisms behind the cancer preventing qualities of aspirin.
They attempted to observe how aspirin affects the tumor growth, by adding it to endothelial cells. Endothelial cells line the interior surface of blood vessels, forming an interface between blood and the rest of the vessel wall. These cells line the entire circulatory system, right from the heart to the smallest capillaries.
Low concentrations of aspirin were found to substantially undermine the ability of endothelial cells to form blood vessels. Tumors need to be fed by the blood vessels for survival.
Blood vessels carry oxygen and other nutrients to the cancer cells and cancer uses the blood vessels to spread to different parts of the body. If aspirin could restrict the blood supply to the tumor, then it might arrest the tumor growth, not allowing it to grow larger than a pea.
Long-term intake of aspirin can however lead to severe gastric bleeding. So researchers are now looking at the molecular structure of this drug, to identify the exact part, which prevents the formation of new blood vessels.
If they are successful in this, they might be able develop aspirin- based drugs that can fight cancer growth and at the same time safer to humans. This new study is published in the ‘Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology’.
Further Reading
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