© 2004 by Oxford University Press
© 2004 Oxford University Press
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A Prospective Study of Aspirin Use and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Women
Affiliations of authors: Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (ESS, JHK, ATC, HGS, EG, GAC CSF); Ludwig Boltzmann-Institute for Applied Cancer Research, KFJ-Spital, Vienna, Austria (ESS); Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (ATC); Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD (DSM); Departments of Nutrition (EG) and Epidemiology (HGS, GAC), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston; Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, Boston (GAC); Epidemiology Program (GAC) and Department of Adult Oncology (CSF), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston.
Correspondence to: Eva S. Schernhammer, MD, DrPH, Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115 (e-mail: eva.schernhammer{at}channing.harvard.edu)
Background: In vitro experiments and limited animal studies suggest that aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may inhibit pancreatic carcinogenesis. Because few studies have examined the association between aspirin use and pancreatic cancer in humans and the results have been inconsistent, we examined the relationship between aspirin use and the development of pancreatic cancer in the Nurses' Health Study. Methods: Among 88 378 women without cancer at baseline, we documented 161 cases of pancreatic cancer during 18 years of follow-up. Aspirin use was first assessed at baseline in 1980 and updated biennially thereafter. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: Participants were classified according to history of aspirin use. In a multivariable analysis, the risk of pancreatic cancer was not associated with current regular aspirin use (defined as two or more standard tablets per week; relative risk [RR] = 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.87 to 1.65), compared with use of fewer than two tablets per week. Increasing duration of regular aspirin use, compared with non-use, was associated with a statistically significant increase in risk: Women who reported more than 20 years of regular aspirin use had an increased risk of pancreatic cancer (RR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.43; Ptrend = .01). Among women who reported aspirin use on at least two of three consecutive biennial questionnaires compared with consistent non-users of aspirin, the risk increased with dose (one to three tablets per week: RR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.70 to 1.76; four to six tablets per week: RR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.70 to 2.40; seven to 13 tablets per week: RR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.76 to 2.61; and 
14 tablets per week: RR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.03 to 3.35) (Ptrend = .02). Conclusion: Extended periods of regular aspirin use appear to be associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer among women.
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Correspondence about this Article
- Re: A Prospective Study of Aspirin Use and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Women
- Gian Franco Gensini, Andrea A. Conti, and Rosanna Abbate
J Natl Cancer Inst 2004 96: 637.[Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]
- RESPONSE: Re: A Prospective Study of Aspirin Use and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Women
- Eva Schernhammer and Charles Fuchs
J Natl Cancer Inst 2004 96: 637-638.[Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]
Editorial about this Article
- What Now for Aspirin and Cancer Prevention?
- John A. Baron
J Natl Cancer Inst 2004 96: 4-5.[Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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