title: Molecular pathways: aspirin and Wnt signaling-a molecularly targeted approach to cancer prevention and treatment.
abstract: The anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin have resulted in its widespread use as an analgesic, antipyretic, and cardioprotective agent. Beyond these applications, multiple observational studies and randomized controlled trials have demonstrated a chemopreventative role for aspirin, particularly in the development of colorectal neoplasia. Given the critical importance of Wnt dysregulation in colorectal carcinogenesis, the interplay between aspirin and canonical Wnt signaling has become a focus of investigation. These studies have illuminated our understanding of the anticancer mechanisms of aspirin, yielding the identification of potential biomarkers for which aspirin's chemopreventative efficacy can be safely optimized into routine clinical practice and providing leads into the discovery of novel preventive and therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize key experimental and clinical studies of this interaction, as well as highlighting future strategies to advance their clinical translation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. mgala@mgh.harvard.edu achan@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Manish K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gala
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. mgala@mgh.harvard.edu achan@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin