The UK opens the world’s largest clinical trial to test the anti-cancer effects of aspirin According to foreign media reports, the UK will launch the world’s largest clinical trial to test the anti-cancer effects of aspirin. About 11,000 people who have suffered from early stage bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer and esophageal cancer will participate in this trial. In recent years, the debate over whether aspirin has an anti-cancer effect has intensified because of its uncertainty. Scientists say that if the drug’s effectiveness is confirmed, it will revolutionize and provide a cheap and effective treatment for cancer patients. The clinical trial, jointly funded by the UK’s Charity Cancer Research Centre and the UK’s National Institute for Health Research, will see patients taking one aspirin a day for five years. Researchers will compare patients taking different doses with those taking a placebo and check for cancer recurrence. Fiona. Reddington, PhD, of Cancer Research UK, said, “This clinical trial is particularly exciting because cancer recurrence is often difficult to cure, so finding an inexpensive and effective way to fight cancer has the potential to revolutionize the way patients are treated.” The clinical trial, which will be conducted at 100 facilities in the United Kingdom, will involve many patients who have had or have been cured of early-stage cancer and will last for up to 12 years. Taking the drug every day can also bring a range of health problems, as it can cause side effects, such as stomach ulcers and bleeding. Professor Ruth Langley, the trial’s lead researcher, said: “There have been some interesting studies showing that aspirin can delay or stop the recurrence of early-stage cancer, but no randomized trials have provided clear evidence. The aim of this trial is to address this question once and for all.” Professor Ruth claims, “If our research shows that aspirin does stop cancer from recurring, it could completely transform future treatments, providing us with a simple and inexpensive way to stop cancer recurring and help more people survive.” Alex King, 51, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2009 and has now been cured. He claims, “Having cancer was the worst experience of my life and anything I can do to reduce the chances of it coming back is very important.” Many people are now already taking small doses of aspirin daily as a heart disease medication.