Scientists from the University of Cambridge have made an unexpected discovery about a medicine that many people already have at home.
Their new research suggests that aspirin, a drug used for over 100 years, may help stop some cancers from spreading by helping the body’s own immune system work better.
Aspirin is widely known as a simple and affordable medicine. People often take it to reduce pain, lower fever, and ease inflammation. It is also commonly used in low doses to prevent heart attacks and strokes because it reduces the chance of blood clots forming.
However, over the years, doctors noticed something unusual. People who regularly took low-dose aspirin seemed less likely to have their cancer spread to other parts of the body. This pattern was seen in cancers such as breast, bowel, and prostate cancer.
Until now, scientists did not clearly understand why this happened. The new study, published in the journal Nature and supported by the Medical Research Council, helps explain this mystery.
The research team was originally trying to understand metastasis, which is when cancer spreads from its original location to other parts of the body. This process is very dangerous. In fact, about 90 percent of cancer-related deaths happen after cancer has spread.
When cancer cells break away from a main tumor and travel through the body, they are more vulnerable because they are alone. At this stage, the immune system has a better chance of attacking and destroying them.
The immune system uses special cells called T cells to find and kill harmful cells, including cancer cells. However, cancer has ways to protect itself. Large tumors can create an environment that weakens the immune system, making it harder for T cells to do their job.
In this study, scientists used mice to explore how genes affect the spread of cancer. They examined hundreds of genes and identified several that seemed to play a role. One gene, which produces a protein called ARHGEF1, stood out. When this gene was not active, the mice had fewer cancer cells spreading to organs like the lungs and liver.
Further investigation showed that this protein weakens T cells. In simple terms, it acts like a brake on the immune system, making it harder for T cells to attack cancer cells that are trying to spread.
The researchers then looked for what turns on this protein. They discovered that a molecule called thromboxane A2, or TXA2, plays a key role. This was an important finding.
TXA2 is produced by platelets, which are blood cells that help stop bleeding by forming clots. However, too much TXA2 can also lead to dangerous clots, which is why it is linked to heart attacks and strokes.
Aspirin works by reducing the production of TXA2. This is how it helps prevent heart problems. The researchers realized that this same effect could also help in cancer. By lowering TXA2, aspirin may stop the activation of the ARHGEF1 protein. This allows T cells to stay active and attack cancer cells more effectively, especially when those cells are trying to spread.
To test this idea, the scientists gave aspirin to mice with melanoma. The results were encouraging. The mice that received aspirin had fewer cases of cancer spreading compared to those that did not receive it. This suggests that aspirin helps the immune system fight cancer during a critical stage.
Professor Rahul Roychoudhuri, who led the study, explained that even after early treatment like surgery, cancer can sometimes return. This may happen because small groups of cancer cells remain hidden in the body. There may be a short period when the immune system has a strong chance to eliminate these cells, and aspirin could help during this window.
Dr. Jie Yang, another researcher on the team, described the discovery of TXA2’s role as a breakthrough moment. It changed how the team understood the connection between aspirin and cancer and opened up a new direction for research.
Even though these findings are exciting, scientists warn that aspirin is not suitable for everyone. It can cause side effects such as stomach bleeding or ulcers, especially when taken regularly. Because of this, more clinical trials are needed to find out who can benefit safely.
One ongoing study, known as the Add-Aspirin trial, is already exploring whether aspirin can help patients after a cancer diagnosis. Researchers hope that the new findings will help identify which patients are most likely to benefit from this treatment.
This research offers a promising new idea in the fight against cancer. Unlike many modern treatments, aspirin is cheap and widely available. If future studies confirm its benefits, it could become a simple way to help prevent cancer from spreading and improve survival rates.
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The study is published in Nature.
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