Aspirin for Cancer Prevention (AsCaP)

In February 2018, Cancer Research UK funded the AsCaP Project for 5 years to understand the major role aspirin can play in preventing cancer.

Professor Jack Cuzick is leading an international collaboration of experts including lab researchers, epidemiologists and clinical trial experts from institutes at Queen Mary University of London, Harvard School of Medicine, Newcastle University and University College London to explore why aspirin appears to only have a powerful effect on some cancer types. There is strong evidence that aspirin reduces the risk of bowel cancer, some evidence it can cut the risk of stomach and oesophageal cancers, and potentially a number of other cancers types.

You can read more below:

Estimates of benefits and harms of prophylactic use of aspirin in the general population.

Population-wide Impact of Long-term Use of Aspirin and the Risk for Cancer.

Aspirin and colorectal cancer: the promise of precision chemoprevention.

Aspirin and Cancer Prevention in the Elderly: Where Do We Go From Here?

The research carried out and supported by AsCaP aims to find out who is likely to benefit most from the drug and who is at greater risk of bleeding side-effects. The researchers will also investigate what the best dose is, how long to take it for and how aspirin works to reduce cancer risk.

We also aim to develop future leaders in population research specialised in cancer prevention through PhD and post-doctoral training.

Below is a 3D animation video of aspirin's journey through the body.