Scientists may have just cracked a major mystery—how aspirin, the everyday painkiller, could stop cancer from spreading. This discovery isn’t some fringe theory; it’s coming straight from the labs of Cambridge University. In animal studies, aspirin supercharged the immune system, making it better at hunting down rogue cancer cells before they spread.
Cancer’s deadliest trick isn’t the tumor itself—it’s the way it sneaks into new parts of the body. This process, called metastasis, is responsible for most cancer-related deaths. But here’s where it gets interesting: the body’s immune system can take out these wandering cancer cells, if it’s allowed to do its job.
The problem? Platelets—the tiny blood cells that help with clotting—are getting in the way. They shield cancer cells, making it harder for the immune system’s T-cells to detect and destroy them. Aspirin, as it turns out, disrupts platelet activity, stripping cancer cells of their protection and letting T-cells do their work.
This isn’t the first suggestion that aspirin might help cancer patients. Over a decade ago, studies hinted that people who regularly took aspirin had better survival rates after a cancer diagnosis. But until now, nobody really understood why.
Professor Rahul Roychoudhuri, one of the lead researchers, calls this “an exciting and surprising discovery.” He believes aspirin could be most effective in patients with early-stage cancer, possibly as a follow-up treatment after surgery. In theory, this could prevent remaining cancer cells from taking root elsewhere in the body.
But before anyone starts popping aspirin like breath mints, there’s a catch. Aspirin isn’t risk-free—it can cause internal bleeding, including dangerous strokes. That’s why researchers aren’t rushing to hand out prescriptions. Instead, they’re calling for more clinical trials to figure out exactly who would benefit the most.
Professor Mangesh Thorat, a cancer expert from Queen Mary University of London, says this research fills in a crucial missing piece of the puzzle. But he warns that patients shouldn’t self-medicate. Instead, those interested should look into joining ongoing or upcoming clinical trials.
For now, aspirin remains a household painkiller, not a mainstream cancer treatment. But if these findings hold up in human trials, that could change. A cheap, widely available drug that helps stop cancer in its tracks? That’s a game-changer.
Five Fast Facts
- Aspirin was originally derived from willow bark, which has been used for pain relief for thousands of years.
- Metastasis, the process of cancer spreading, causes around 90% of all cancer-related deaths.
- Platelets, which aspirin affects, are also responsible for forming scabs when you get a cut.
- Cambridge University, where this research was conducted, was founded in 1209, making it one of the oldest universities in the world.
- The first recorded use of aspirin in medicine dates back to 1899 when Bayer marketed it as a wonder drug.
