Doctors Surprised by the Power of a Simple Drug Against Colon Cancer

A large Nordic ALASCCA trial tested 160 mg aspirin daily for three years after colorectal cancer surgery.

In patients with PI3K-pathway mutations, aspirin significantly lowered recurrence risk and improved disease-free survival.

The benefit was strongest in genetically defined subgroups such as PIK3CA-mutated tumors.

Aspirin also caused more severe side effects, so the treatment may need careful patient selection.