Aspirin and smoking influence aging processes connected to cancer

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Natural aging increases cancer risk, but aspirin and smoking also affect aging processes of the female genome linked to colorectal cancer. Study authors based at the University of Basel, led by Prof. Primo Schär, reviewed tissue samples from 546 healthy women. All participants were over 50 years of age. They examined changes to gene markers (also called DNA methylations) and reviewed the womens' lifestyles with regard to smoking, aspirin use, body mass index (BMI), and use of hormonal replacement therapy. 


The factors of smoking and aspirin use produced the most noticeable results. Smoking was shown to accelerate the normal aging process by increasing age-related decay of gene markers, which in turn increased risk of cancer development. On the other hand, aspirin use is believed to slow the age-related decay, giving some further evidence to the possible use of aspirin as an anti-cancer measure.  Co-researcher and gastrointestinal specialist, Dr. Kaspar Truninger, feels that more research is required before patients can be advised to consume aspirin purely as an anti-cancer measure.