Vic: Trial to examine links between bowel cancer and aspirin
MELBOURNE, Aug 19 AAP - A new Australian trial will examine the links between aspirinand the prevention of bowel cancer.
The century-old drug, that relieves headaches and helps prevent heart attacks, hasalready been shown to reduce bowel cancer rates by 50 per cent in epidemiological studies.
Researchers will now examine its potential under a three-year trial involving 120 patientsat risk of developing the disease.
Bowel cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting both men and women, with onein 21 Australians expected to develop the disease.
It is estimated 15 per cent of all cases involve hereditary risk.
Gastroenterologist Professor Finlay Macrae from the Royal Melbourne Hospital will headthe research, which is part of an international clinical trial of 1,200 people who areusing aspirin.
The participants each have one of the nine cancer predisposing genes or a family historyof bowel cancer.
"If aspirin works in the way that we hope, then for the first time there will be arelatively safe and effective drug therapy available to prevent bowel polyps - and perhapscancer - at least in those families at high risk," Prof Macrae said.
However, while the potential benefits of taking aspirin are great, Prof Macrae saidprolonged aspirin use can cause stomach bleeding in some people.
The $200,000 project will be assisted through funds raised from the Cancer Council'sDaffodil Day.
AAP svm/jlw/cd/sb e
KEYWORD: BOWEL
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