British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) members are pioneering the UK’s largest randomised controlled drug intervention trial into the use of aspirin for gastrointestinal cancer prevention.
The Aspirin Esomeprazole Chemoprevention Trial (AspECT) is the fourth largest trial of its kind in the world with over 2,500 patients and will build on global research into the use of aspirin in the prevention of different types of GI cancer. With 86 centres throughout the UK, this represents a triumph of co-operative clinical research for British gastroenterology and a model for trials of this kind throughout the world. The AspECT trial is a randomised study for patients with Barrett’s Oesophagus to look at whether high-dose aspirin and an acidsuppressant Esomeprazole can prevent progression to cancer. The study is being co-ordinated by Professor Janusz Jankowski at Leicester University. Barrett’s oesophagus is caused by reflux of acid from the stomach, which injures the lining of the oesophagus, making it prone to cancerous change. Professor Chris Hawkey, president of the BSG, commented: “Aspirin is a highly diverse and useful drug. It prevents heart attacks and strokes and has definite benefit in cancer. Cancer of the oesophagus is now so common because of the epidemic of obesity that it makes sense to try to prevent cancer development in people with Barrett’s oesophagus. AspECT is leading the way in this regard. “But aspirin is also an enemy that can cause ulcers. We believe we can prevent this by a simple intervention to eradicate the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and have applied for funding for another big trial to test this. Big trials that address big clinical questions for quick patient benefit are at the heart of the BSG’s priorities for research.”
