Aspirin & Ibuprofen Differentially Alter Breast Cancer Risk
Posted Apr 29 2011 11:44am
As I mentioned in a couple of previous blog posts , aspirin has been reported to reduce breast cancer risk and enhance breast cancer survival. Aspirin is one of a number of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Since inflammation has been implicated in breast cancer development and progression, anti-inflammatory drugs have been thought to have potential benefits for reducing breast cancer risk. However, it is currently unclear if all NSAIDs have the same beneficial effect or whether the effects of NSAIDs differ by breast cancer subtype.
A breast cancer study recently published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control examined the effect of aspirin and ibuprofen on breast cancer risk. For this study, investigators asked 1,170 breast cancer patients and 2,115 healthy control volunteers about their recent and adult lifetime use of aspirin and their recent use of ibuprofen. Relationships between use of these NSAIDs and breast cancer incidence and breast cancer subtypes were analyzed. Results of this analysis showed that
Recent aspirin use was linked to a reduction in breast cancer risk with no differences in breast cancer subtypes.
Lifetime aspirin use was also linked to a reduction in breast cancer risk regardless of breast cancer subtype.
Recent use of ibuprofen was linked to 33% increase in the risk for estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive (ER[+]/PR[+]) breast cancer.
Similarly, recent ibuprofen use was linked to a 27% increase in HER2[-] breast cancer risk and a 28% increase in p53[-] breast cancer risk.
Recent ibuprofen use was also associated with an increased risk for luminal A or luminal B breast cancers.
This is a very interesting and potentially important breast cancer research paper. While it appears that most of the studies looking at aspirin's potential benefits for breast cancer prevention have been positive, the studies on ibuprofen seem to have generated more mixed results. One possible reason for mixed results in these studies could be differences in the breast cancer subtypes being examined. This new study suggests that while ibuprofen might have benefits or no effects on some breast cancer subtypes, it might increase one's risk for ER[+]/PR[+], HER2[-], p53[-], and luminal A or B breast cancers.
The differences between aspirin and ibuprofen in regards to breast cancer risk are unclear. Both of these NSAIDs block inflammation by inhibiting both of the cyclooxygenase enzymes involved in the production of inflammatory factors. Whether other mechanisms associated with inhibiting inflammation are involved or whether the difference might be attributable to aspirin being an irreversible inhibitor and ibuprofen being a reversible inhibitor is uncertain and will likely be the focuse of future research.
To learn about other diet and lifestyle choices to reduce your breast cancer risk, read my FREE book FIGHT NOW: EAT & LIVE PROACTIVELY AGAINST BREAST CANCER . Please recommend to anyone interested in breast cancer, breast cancer treatment, and breast cancer symptoms.
A breast cancer study recently published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control examined the effect of aspirin and ibuprofen on breast cancer risk. For this study, investigators asked 1,170 breast cancer patients and 2,115 healthy control volunteers about their recent and adult lifetime use of aspirin and their recent use of ibuprofen. Relationships between use of these NSAIDs and breast cancer incidence and breast cancer subtypes were analyzed. Results of this analysis showed that
- Recent aspirin use was linked to a reduction in breast cancer risk with no differences in breast cancer subtypes.
- Lifetime aspirin use was also linked to a reduction in breast cancer risk regardless of breast cancer subtype.
- Recent use of ibuprofen was linked to 33% increase in the risk for estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive (ER[+]/PR[+]) breast cancer.
- Similarly, recent ibuprofen use was linked to a 27% increase in HER2[-] breast cancer risk and a 28% increase in p53[-] breast cancer risk.
- Recent ibuprofen use was also associated with an increased risk for luminal A or luminal B breast cancers.
This is a very interesting and potentially important breast cancer research paper. While it appears that most of the studies looking at aspirin's potential benefits for breast cancer prevention have been positive, the studies on ibuprofen seem to have generated more mixed results. One possible reason for mixed results in these studies could be differences in the breast cancer subtypes being examined. This new study suggests that while ibuprofen might have benefits or no effects on some breast cancer subtypes, it might increase one's risk for ER[+]/PR[+], HER2[-], p53[-], and luminal A or B breast cancers.The differences between aspirin and ibuprofen in regards to breast cancer risk are unclear. Both of these NSAIDs block inflammation by inhibiting both of the cyclooxygenase enzymes involved in the production of inflammatory factors. Whether other mechanisms associated with inhibiting inflammation are involved or whether the difference might be attributable to aspirin being an irreversible inhibitor and ibuprofen being a reversible inhibitor is uncertain and will likely be the focuse of future research.
To learn about other diet and lifestyle choices to reduce your breast cancer risk, read my FREE book FIGHT NOW: EAT & LIVE PROACTIVELY AGAINST BREAST CANCER . Please recommend to anyone interested in breast cancer, breast cancer treatment, and breast cancer symptoms.