According to a new study, conducted by researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, UK, aspirin can possibly boost immuno-oncology treatments for a number of cancers. The study suggested that the combination of aspirin with conventional immuno-oncology treatments could boost the latter’s ability to track and kill cancer cells more easily.

Funded by the Cancer Research UK, the research was performed on mice. It proved that conventional immunotherapies can possible have one drawback when used in the treatment of cancer. The drawback is likely to be related to hormone-like substance activated by cancer cells.

When there are cancer cells present, a molecule named prostaglandin E2 or PGE2 is released in the in huge amounts. Prostaglandin E2 behaves in a way that it halts the immune system from attacking faulty cells in the body.

Aspirin and other COX inhibitors are strong and cost-effective tools. They inhibit just the production of prostaglandin E2, while boosting the immune system of the body. The research findings suggested that combination of aspirin with immuno-oncology treatments resulted into a notable slow down of both melanoma skin cancer and bowel cancer in mice.

Caetano Reis e Sousa, lead author of the study and group leader with the Francis Crick Institute, said that the study is presently in its initial phases. He mentioned that in case further trials and steps of the research yield the same effective results than combination of aspirin or COX inhibitors with immunotherapy is going to prove very important for cancer patients.