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Aspirin Use and the Risk of Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

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.

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We declare that no conflict of interest exists for any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Road, 610041, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

    Ping Yang, Yong Zhou, Bo Chen, Hong-Wei Wan, Gui-Qing Jia, Hai-Long Bai & Xiao-Ting Wu

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  1. Ping Yang
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Correspondence to Xiao-Ting Wu.

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Yang, P., Zhou, Y., Chen, B. et al. Aspirin Use and the Risk of Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Dig Dis Sci 55, 1533–1539 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-0915-0

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