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Regular Adult Aspirin Use Decreases the Risk of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer among Women

¹ Cancer Biology Program, ² Population Studies and Prevention Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, and ³ Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan

Requests for reprints: Alison L. Van Dyke, Cancer Biology Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201. Phone: 313-578-4314. E-mail: avandyk{at}med.wayne.edu

Background: Prior studies indicate that use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) is associated with a decreased risk of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, results have been contradictory in part because of variation in study design. Few studies have examined the use of aspirin or other NSAIDs on risk of NSCLC in women.

Methods: Through a case-control study of African American and Caucasian women with and without NSCLC, we examined the relationship between use of aspirin, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen and risk of NSCLC. Risk was estimated by calculating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for ever/never use, duration of use, and duration of use category (never, 1-5 years, >5 years) after adjusting for major risk factors for lung cancer. Risk estimates were stratified by race, age, smoking history, and body mass index.

Results: Ever use of adult-strength aspirin was associated with a significant reduction in risk of NSCLC (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.94). Additionally, there was a significant trend toward a reduced risk of NSCLC in adult-strength aspirin users with increasing duration of use (P_trend = 0.02). In stratified analyses, aspirin use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of lung cancer among Caucasians and 55- to 64-year-olds. Baby aspirin and NSAID use was associated with a significant reduction in risk of NSCLC only among 65- to 74-year-olds.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that long-term use of adult-strength aspirin may reduce the risk of NSCLC in women. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(1):148–57)