Aspirin: a new old anticancer drug

A positive effect of aspirin against colorectal cancer (CRC) was suggested for the first time by Kune et al. in 1988, who noticed a significant lower rate of aspirin users among new cases of colon and rectal cancer in Melbourne (Australia) metropolitan area [relative risk (RR), 0.49; 95% CI: 0.40–0.71] (1). Since then, the chemo-preventive potential of aspirin has been confirmed by different large cohort studies, in particular through analysis of data from large cardiovascular prevention trials (2).