Aspirin use was associated with lower incidence of breast cancer for women with a family history of breast cancer and those with a personal history of benign breast disease. These postmenopausal women could potentially be targeted for aspirin chemoprevention studies. This according to a study of postmenopausal women with no history of breast cancer (n=26,580) who were followed for over 3 years for breast cancer incidence (n=1,581). Researchers found:

• Aspirin use was associated with a lower incidence of breast cancer for women with family history of breast cancer (HR, 0.62) and those with a personal history of benign breast disease (HR, 0.69).

• Aspirin use was not associated with lower incidence of breast cancer for women in higher-risk subgroups for age at menarche, age at menopause, parity/age at first live birth, or BMI.

• In contrast, inverse associations with aspirin use were observed in all lower-risk subgroups.

Citation: Bardia A, Keenan TE, Ebbert JO, et al. Personalizing aspirin use for targeted breast cancer chemoprevention in postmenopausal women. [Published online ahead of print December 8, 2015]. Mayo Clin Proc. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.10.018.

Commentary: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and ranks second, after lung cancer, as a cause of cancer-related death in women. Approximately 250,000 women annually in the US are diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,000 die of breast cancer.  When we think about early detection and prevention, we usually think about mammography, which has demonstrated efficacy.  Recently, the American Cancer Society updated its recommendations for breast cancer screening and recommended that annual clinical breast exams do not need to be routinely performed, as they are not an effective method of early detection.¹ Other data suggest exercise may decrease the development of breast cancer by up to 40%.² The potential to actually decrease the incidence of breast cancer by up to 30% to 40% by the daily use of aspirin is exciting and adds to data on the benefits of aspirin which can also  decrease the development of cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer.³   —Neil Skolnik, MD

1. Oeffinger KC, Fontham ETH, Etzioni R, et al.  Breast cancer screening for women at average risk.  JAMA. 2015;314(15):SWK. doi:10/1001/jama.2015.12783.

2. Kushi LH, Doyle C, McCullough M, et al. American Cancer Society guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with heatlh food choices and physical activity. CA Cancer J Clin. 2012;62(1):30–67. doi: 10.3322/caac.20140.

3. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Draft Recommendation Statement: Aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryDraft/aspirin-to-prevent-cardiovascular-disease-and-cancer September 2015. Accessed December 19, 2015.