Abstract

"Purpose: Aspirin, which widely being used in prevention of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease also has cancer preventive effect in the colon, esophagus, and bladder. In this study, we aimed to investigate its preventive effect in the prostatic tissue in respect of inflammation and malignancy. Materials and methods: From January 2004 to December 2007, 164 patients who had been done prostatic biopsy either due to high PSA (4ng/dL), digital rectal examination, or transrectal ultrasonography were included to this study. They were devided into three groups according to their duration of aspirin medication; group A (not medicated at all, N=74), group B (less than 5 years of medication duration, N=60), and group C (5 or more than 5 years of medication duration, N=28). Serum PSA, prostate volume, and positive yielding rate of transrectal biopy were analyzed. Results: Mean age of each group was 69.23 (A), 70.78 (B), 67.05 (C) years old (p>0.05). Mean prostatic volume was not significantly different in each group (42.48, 43.72, and 41.97gm, respectively, p>0.05). However, the positive yielding rate was significantly lower in group C (3.5%) rather than group A (38.1%) or group B (31.6%) (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis of the effect of the duration of aspirin medication to positive yielding rate of prostatic cancer showed significantly decreased incidence of positive rate of prostatic cancer in patients with 5 year or longer duration of medication (OR=0.72; 95% CI 0.35~1.50 vs. OR=0.06; 95% CI 0.01~0.48). Conclusion: This study supports the cancer preventive effect of aspirin. Lower incidence of positive rate in the patients who take aspirin over 5 years or longer, shows that the prolonged medication of aspirin may protect the development of prostate cancer."

• Keywords: Aspirin, Prostate, Inflammation, Cancer