A small dose of Aspirin can halt Cancer: Study

Australian scientists have found that aspirin has ability to stop tumors from spreading. As per their opinion, the humble painkiller could act as the deterrent to stop cancerous growth.

According to Daily Express reports, this discovery can facilitate the way for new treatments that may cure the disease for good.

"I hope this information is one bit of the puzzle that will lead to a cure for cancer,” researcher Dr Tara Karnezis, of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre said.

Aspirin, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug - or NSAID - is commonly used to reduce the death rates from some common types of cancers that include stomach and bowel, esophagus, pancreas, lungs, prostate, bladder, breast and kidneys.

But, scientists were earlier unaware about its actual functioning.

Now, the Australian researchers have found that cancer tumours secrete proteins, and the compound known as growth factors.

These growth factors attract blood and lymphatic vessels around it and thus facilitate the cancer to flourish and spread.

The growth factors are also held responsible to encourage these lymphatic vessels - or "supply lines" - to widen, and consequently facilitating spread of cancer.

But Dr Karnezis opined that NSAID drugs can check this widening, consequently stopping the spread of the disease.

"A group of drugs reverse the widening of the supply line and make it hard for the tumours to spread. At the end of the day that's what kills people," Dr Karnezis added.

"This discovery unlocks a range of potentially powerful new therapies to target this pathway in lymphatic vessels, effectively tightening a tumour's supply lines and restricting the transport of cancer cells to the rest of the body," she said.

With this discovery, the cancer specialists may include aspirin in patients' prescription, this discovery will led to the development of better and more efficient drugs, she opined.

Cancer Cell’, a journal has published this study. 

--With  inputs  from ANI