Researchers at LMU found a signaling system by which aspirin can decrease colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer, often known as colon cancer, is the world’s third most common cancer form, with an estimated 1.9 million new cases and 900,000 deaths per year. As a result, there is a strong demand for preventive measures. Aspirin/acetylsalicylic acid has emerged as one of the most promising colorectal cancer prevention options.
Among other findings, research has revealed that people with cardiovascular illnesses who took low doses of aspirin for several years had a lower risk of colon cancer. Furthermore, aspirin may slow the progression of colorectal cancer. A team led by Heiko Hermeking, Professor of Experimental and Molecular Pathology at LMU, has studied the molecular mechanisms underpinning these effects.
Molecular Mechanisms The subject of study
According to the findings published in the journal Cell Death and Disease, aspirin causes the synthesis of two tumor-suppressive microRNA molecules (miRNAs) known as miR-34a and miR-34b/c. Aspirin binds to and activates the enzyme AMPK, which modifies the transcription factor NRF2 and causes it to move into the cell nucleus, activating the production of miR-34 genes. To allow this activation, aspirin lowers the oncogene product c-MYC, which would otherwise inhibit NRF2.
Overall, the findings suggest that miR-34 genes are required to mediate aspirin’s inhibitory action on colorectal cancer cells. As a result, aspirin did not prevent miR-34-deficient cancer cells from migrating, invading, or metastasizing. As previously described, the transcription factor p53 induces and mediates the actions of miR-34 genes. “Our results show, however, that activation of the miR-34 genes by aspirin takes place independently of the p53 signaling pathway,” Hermeking said in a press release. “This is significant since the p53-encoding gene is the most often deactivated tumor suppressor gene in colorectal cancer. In most other types of cancer, mutations or viruses inactivate p53. Aspirin could potentially be used therapeutically in similar circumstances in the future.”
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