Aspirin use and the risk of gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Studies investigating the association between aspirin use and gastric cancer risk have reported conflicting results. The objective of this study was to quantitatively summarize the evidence for such a relationship.


RESULTS
Two investigators independently searched the Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) databases. Fourteen studies with a total number of 5,640 gastric cancer cases were identified. Most of the study populations were Caucasian. The combined results based on all studies showed there was no statistically significant difference between aspirin use and gastric cancer risk (odds ratio (OR) = 0.80, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.54-1.19). When stratifying by study designs and gender, results were similar except for cohort and randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.62-0.84). When stratifying by location and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, we observed there were lower risks in noncardia gastric cancer (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.55-0.69) and H. pylori-infected individuals (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.42-0.90) for aspirin users. Among Caucasians, there were lower risks for noncardia gastric cancer (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.62-0.87) and H. pylori-infected individuals (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.42-0.90) also.


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis indicated that regular use of aspirin may be associated with reduced risk of noncardia gastric cancer, especially among Caucasians; for H. pylori-infected subjects the result was similar.
Yang
Ping
P
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Zhou
Yong
Y
Chen
Bo
B
Wan
Hong-Wei
HW
Jia
Gui-Qing
GQ
Bai
Hai-Long
HL
Wu
Xiao-Ting
XT
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D044465:White People
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D001241:Aspirin