91av

Analysis and Health

Does aspirin have potential as an anti-cancer drug?

Taking aspirin was first linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer in 1988, but the research into its anti-tumour potential has been full of twists and turns since then

By Fiona Macrae

31 March 2025

Aspirin’s health-boosting potential could extend beyond easing pain and preventing heart disease

David Burton / Alamy

Imagine if a cheap, accessible and relatively safe pill could prevent cancer in those who have never had it and stop it from returning among those in remission. The idea that aspirin is such a “wonder drug” is the subject of intense research, but the picture is muddled.

The notion that aspirin could have anti-cancer properties dates back decades. In 1988, researchers in Australia linked the painkiller to a , or bowel, cancer. of these observational studies…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with 91av events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop