The preventive effects of low-dose enteric-coated aspirin tablets on the development of colorectal tumours in Asian patients: a randomised trial

Objective To evaluate the influence of low-dose, enteric-coated aspirin tablets (100 mg/day for 2 years) on colorectal tumour recurrence in Asian patients with single/multiple colorectal tumours excised by endoscopy. Design A double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled multicentre clinical trial was conducted. Participants 311 subjects with single/multiple colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas excised by endoscopy were enrolled in the study (152 patients in the aspirin group and 159 patients in the placebo group). Enrolment began at the hospitals (n=19) in 2007 and was completed in 2009. Results The subjects treated with aspirin displayed reduced colorectal tumourigenesis and primary endpoints with an adjusted OR of 0.60 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.98) compared with the subjects in the placebo group. Subgroup analysis revealed that subjects who were nonsmokers, defined as those who had smoked in the past or who had never smoked, had a marked reduction in the number of recurrent tumours in the aspirin-treated group. The adjusted OR for aspirin treatment in nonsmokers was 0.37 (CI 0.21 to 0.68, p<0.05). Interestingly, the use of aspirin in smokers resulted in an increased risk, with an OR of 3.44. In addition, no severe adverse effects were observed in either group. Conclusions Low-dose, enteric-coated aspirin tablets reduced colorectal tumour recurrence in an Asian population. The results are consistent with those obtained from other randomised controlled trials in Western countries.