NEW YORK, June 19 (Praxis Press) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer, but their effects on other cancers are unclear. Langman and colleagues studied cases collected in the United Kingdom's general practice research database to study the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on the risk of developing common cancers (see paper). The study group consisted of patients taking NSAIDs who were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers (esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, or pancreas) or non-gastrointestinal cancers (bladder, breast, lung, and prostate) between 1993 and 1995. Although they found a trend towards reduced risk of esophageal, gastric, colon, and rectal cancers, in these patients, no effect was apparent on bladder, breast, and lung cancer. Unexpectedly, the risk of prostatic and pancreatic cancer was increased, although this may not be a causal relationship. Although further investigation is needed to understand the increased risks of pancreatic and prostatic cancer, NSAIDs may protect against gastrointestinal cancers.