NSAID users took the drug at least once a week for six or more months any time during follow-up, regardless of daily frequency, duration, or type, the researchers reported.
Alterations in the genes encoding the tumor-suppressor proteins CDKN2A, TP53, and abnormalities in DNA content are common in many human cancers and their precursors, including esophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett's esophagus, the researchers said.
Aspirin and other NSAIDs have been proposed as possible chemopreventive agents for these conditions. However, they added, until now little has been known about the ability of a biomarker panel to predict progression to cancer or how NSAID use may modulate progression.
In a 10-year prospective cohort study of 243 patients with Barrett's (189 men, 54 women, mean age 62 at baseline), biopsies were evaluated for TP53 and CDKN2A (p16) alterations, DNA content abnormalities (tetraploidy, and aneuploidy); loss of heterozygosity; methylation-specific PCR; and flow cytometry.
