Kanazawa, S., Yamaguchi, K., Kinoshita, Y., Muramatsu, M., Komiyama, Y., & Nomura, S. (2006). Aspirin reduces adverse effects of gefitinib. Anti-Cancer Drugs, 17, 423–427.
To investigate the effects of low-dose aspirin on some adverse effects of gefitinib
Patients were recruited when admitted to the hospital for assessment of lung cancer. For the first two years, patients did not receive aspirin. In 2003, patients were started on aspirin 100 mg/day along with gefitinib treatment. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids were continued in all patients.
Patients were undergoing active antitumor treatment.
The study was a retrospective analysis of treated versus untreated cases.
No instruments or methods were described for toxicity rating.
Overall frequency of EGFRI-related adverse events was 77.8% in those not treated with aspirin and 58.3% in those who received aspirin. Skin rash incidence was 33.3% in those on aspirin and 74.1% of those not on aspirin. There was no apparent difference in gefinitib response between groups.
Findings suggest that aspirin may help to reduce the incidence of some gefinitib toxicities, however, no clear conclusions can be made due to study limitations.
This study aimed to report the effects of low-dose aspirin for prevention of toxicities with gefinitib. The study does not provide strong support for this intervention; however, results suggest that further research in the use of low-dose aspirin could be beneficial.