Not too long ago, a breakthrough study on aspirin came up. It was on aspirin therapy being used to prevent heart attack. Aspirin belongs to a class of medications called salicylates, known for their anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning properties. By preventing blood clots from forming, aspirin reduces the chances of blocked arteries, which can trigger heart attacks and strokes. That’s why doctors often recommend low-dose aspirin therapy to people with a history of cardiovascular disease or high-risk conditions.But, do you know that the same medicine can also prevent some cancers from spreading? Scientists have uncovered how aspirin might help reduce the spread of certain cancers by boosting the immune system. The findings were published in the journal Nature, titled, Aspirin prevents metastasis by limiting platelet TXA2 suppression of T cell immunity. The findings could support the ongoing clinical trials and pave the way for more targeted use of aspirin in cancer treatment. This discovery can also now contribute to developing new drugs which are aimed at preventing cancer metastasis. What Do We Know?There have been previous studies which has shown how people who consume aspirin on a daily basis tend to have a lower risk of cancer spread. This works especially in breast, bowel and prostate cancers. However, researchers were unsure on how it actually played the role. This new study thus helps in finding that link and is conducted by the researchers at the University of Cambridge. Cancer starts in one location, but in about 90% of cases, death occurs when it spreads to other parts of the body. Scientists have been studying the immune system’s role in this process, as cancer cells that detach from the main tumor are vulnerable to immune attack. While primary tumors can suppress the immune system, individual cancer cells that travel through the body are often more exposed, making them potential targets for treatment.In a previous study, researcher screened 810 genes in mice and found that 15 of them influenced cancer metastasis. The researchers were able to discover that mice lacked a gene responsible for producing a protein called ARHGEF1 had fewer metastases in lungs and liver. The research also showed that ARHGEF1 suppresses T cells, which are immune cells that play an important role in killing metastatic cancer cells. What Is The Link Between Aspirin And the Immune System?To develop successful treatments, researchers sought a way to disrupt ARHGEF1's suppressive functions. They identified that ARHGEF1 activates when T cells interact with the clotting factor thromboxane A2 (TXA2). This was a surprising finding, given that TXA2 is already well-known for its function in blood clotting and aspirin action.Platelets produce TXA2, which aids in blood clotting but can also cause heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin reduces TXA2 production, preventing excessive clotting. According to recent research, aspirin lowers TXA2 levels, allowing T cells to target and kill cancer cells before they spread.In order to confirm the findings, the researchers then conducted experiments in mice with melanoma. This is when they found that when the mice was given aspirin, it had few metastases compared to the mice who was not administered with the same. This effect was directly linked to the release of T cells from TXA2 suppression. Professor Rahul Roychoudhuri, the lead researcher, highlighted that many early-stage cancer patients undergo surgery or other treatments that could potentially cure them. However, some later experience cancer recurrence due to micrometastases—small clusters of cancer cells that have spread but remain dormant. Targeting this vulnerable stage could help prevent cancer from returning.