Aspirin, folic acid and risk of basal cell carcinoma. (1st August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Passarelli, M.N.; Barry, E.L.; Zhang, D.; Gangar, P.; Rees, J.R.; Bresalier, R.S.; McKeown‐Eyssen, G.; Karagas, M.R.; Baron, J.A.
• Is Part Of: British journal of dermatology. Volume 179:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: e110
• Page End: e110
• Publication Date: 2018-08-01
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/bjd.16964
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-0963

Abstract

Summary: Patients with the genetic disorder basal cell naevus syndrome are at risk of developing multiple basal cell carcinomas, a form of skin cancer. Treatment with the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug called celecoxib appears to reduce the risk. There is some evidence that other non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, including aspirin, may slightly reduce the risk of non‐melanoma skin cancers in general. High amounts of folic acid in the diet may be linked to a slightly increased risk of basal cell carcinoma. Adenomas are polyps of the large bowel (colon and rectum) which are often multiple; they can develop into bowel cancer. They can be detected and removed by colonoscopy, which is repeated at regular intervals. Aspirin and folic acid may prevent the recurrence of these adenomas. The authors of this study, based in the United States and Canada, studied over a thousand patients with colorectal adenomas (aged 21‐80) who were participating in a trial of aspirin and folic acid in prevention of further polyps, over a 3‐6 year period. The authors looked at pathology reports to see if there was a different incidence of basal cell carcinoma in patients on aspirin/folic acid or placebo (no treatment). 104 of 958 patients eligible for the study developed basal cell carcinoma. Overall, aspirin and/or folic acid therapy had no significant effect on the development of basal cell carcinoma, although aspirin appeared to reduce the risk of further skin cancers in the small group who had been previously diagnosed with skin cancer. They conclude that the protective effect of aspirin against skin cancer is limited to individuals with a high risk of developing skin cancer.