Aspirin Reduces Colon Cancer Deaths

This article is a copy posted in my blog, “What’s New, Doc?” at www.carbohydratescankill.com. From the title, it may seem irrelevant to diabetes mellitus. However, the risk of cancer is increased among the diabetic patients.A study, ?Aspirin Use and Survival After Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer?, published in the August 12, 2009 issue of Journal of American Medical Association, cites taking Aspirin regularly by the patients who were diagnosed with colon cancers could reduce 38% of the death rate from the cancer, in comparing with the non-Aspirin user with colon cancer(1). The lead researcher, Dr. Andrew Chan of Boston, MA, found Aspirin was only effective in the cases of colon cancers with COX-2 positive. An earlier study by Dr. Chan and colleagues, ?Aspirin and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Relation to the Expression of COX-2?, was reported in the May 24, 2007 issue of New England Journal of Medicine(2).COX-2 stands for cyclo-oxygenase-2, which is a protein and inducible enzyme derived upon inflammatory stimulation and specifically promotes or catalyzes inflammatory prostaglandins for contributing into inflammation. On the other hand, COX-1 is a protein and constitutive enzyme derived upon physiological stimulation and promotes the production of physiological prostaglandins in the stomach, intestine, kidney, platelets, ovary, endothelium (the inner layer of the artery), and others. COX inhibitors can inhibit the production of prostaglandins.Based on my literature review including the referred articles, I am convinced that inflammation is the chief cause for cancer development, although not all of them are related to COX-2 but other inflammatory factors. Further, studies have implied hyperglycemia a positive link to the level of inflammation, by either activation or potentiation, or both(3).To effectively prevent cancer development is to keep a very low level of inflammation inside the body, not to use Aspirin or other medications for life. The best way to maintain a low level of inflammation is to restrict carbohydrates intake, especially those with high glycemic indices and glycemic loads, except fibers. Because fibers increase the volume of the meal and attenuate its glycemic index and load, they are beneficial in preventing diseases including cancers(4).Robert Su, Pharm.B., M.D.1. Chan AT, et al. ?Aspirin Use and Survival After Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer.? Journal of The American Medical Association. 2009;302(6):649-658. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/302/6/6492. Chan AT, et al. ?Aspirin Use and Survival After Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer.? Aspirin and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Relation to the Expression of COX-2.? New ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE. Volume 356:2131-2142; Number 21. May 24, 2007 Number 21.http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/356/21/2131” target=”_blank”> http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/356/21/21313. Dimitrios Trichopoulos, et al., ?Plasma C-Reactive Protein and Risk of Cancer: A Prospective Study from Greece?, Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers Prevention 2006;15(2). February 2006. http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/reprint/15/2/3814. Su, RK. ?Inflammation, Inflammation, & Inflammation!? Carbohydrates Can Kill. Pages 337-344. http://www/carbohydratescankill.com