SCIENTISTS DISCOVER THE HUMBLE ASPIRIN ‘STOPS CANCEROUS TUMOURS SPREADING’
Scientists in Melbourne, Australia have discovered how non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin prevent tumours growing.
The breakthrough by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre researchers paves the way for new treatments to halt cancer in its tracks.
Co-lead author Dr Tara Karnezis said tumours secreted proteins and compounds called growth factors attracting blood and lymphatic vessels to their vicinity, allowing the cancer to flourish and spread.
These growth factors also encouraged lymphatic vessels – or ‘supply lines’ – to widen, which enabled the spread of cancer, Dr Karnezis said.
Researcher Professor Steven Stacker said the aspirin could work by reducing the dilation of major vessels and therefore reduce the capacity of tumours to spread.
Professor Stacker said: ‘We’ve known that tumours actively secrete a range of proteins and compounds called growth factors to attract blood and lymphatic vessels from within their immediate vicinity, enabling them to flourish and spread.
‘In this research we have discovered that a gene links these growth factors to the prostaglandin cellular pathway – the pathway that can cause inflammation and dilation of vessels throughout the body.
‘Basically, the growth factors released by tumours also encourage nearby collecting lymphatic vessels to widen, increasing the capacity for these ‘supply lines’ to act as more effective conduits of cancer spread.’
Last year, a study published in medical journal The Lancet found that rates of cancer of the colon, prostate, lung, brain and throat were all reduced by daily aspirin use.
For the full article: Daily Mail
