Rung 4 · Strong
Low-dose aspirin after colorectal surgery (PI3K tumors)
Roughly halved recurrence in tumors with PI3K-pathway changes.
TreatmentWith your doctorSafety flag
Safety: In ALASCCA, serious side effects were more common with aspirin than with placebo (16.8% vs 11.6%), most often digestive problems (6.5% vs 3.9%) and heart and blood vessel problems (5.8% vs 4.2%). Aspirin can also cause stomach and intestinal bleeding and stroke.
What studies found
In ALASCCA, three years of 160 mg aspirin cut 3-year recurrence to 7.7% from 14.1% (PIK3CA hotspot mutations) and to 7.7% from 16.8% (other PI3K changes). About 37% of tumors tested had such changes.
The catch
The benefit applies only to tumors with PI3K-pathway changes, which takes a test on the tumor.
What to do
Ask whether your tumor was tested for PI3K-pathway mutations. Never start daily aspirin without your doctor.
Sources
Rung 4 of 5, Strong: At least one large randomized trial, or very large consistent studies, on this exact question. How we score
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
Step by step
For the whole picture, from prevention and screening to treatment and life after, see the colorectal cancer page.
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