Cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs

NEW YORK, June 19 (Praxis Press) Drugs such as aspirin, known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are thought to reduce the risk of colon cancer, but whether these drugs decrease the risk of other types of cancers is unknown. A new study showed that people taking NSAIDs were at reduced risk of esophageal, gastric, colon, and rectal cancers (see paper). But no effect was apparent on the risk of bladder, breast, and lung cancer and the risk of prostatic and pancreatic cancer was increased. NSAIDs may protect against cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, but their role in reducing the risk of other cancers needs to be studied further.