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. 2023 Feb;26(1):14-24.
doi: 10.4048/jbc.2023.26.e3. Epub 2023 Jan 25.

Aspirin Use Is Associated With Improved Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Patients

Christopher Johns  1 , Allen Yen  1 , Asal Rahimi  1 , Yu-Lun Liu  2 , Ann Marilyn Leitch  3 , Ann Spangler  1 , Prasanna Alluri  1 , Chika Nwachukwu  1 , Rachel Wooldridge  3 , Deborah Farr  3 , D W Nathan Kim  4
Affiliations

Aspirin Use Is Associated With Improved Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Patients

Christopher Johns et al. J Breast Cancer. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer and has a high propensity for distant metastases. Our previous data suggested that aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) use may be associated with reduced risk of distant metastases in aggressive breast cancer; however, there are no reported studies on the potential benefit of ASA use in patients with IBC.

Methods: Data from patients with non-metastatic IBC treated between 2000-2017 at two institutions, were reviewed. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify significant associated factors.

Results: Of 59 patients meeting the criteria for analysis and available for review, 14 ASA users were identified. ASA users demonstrated increased OS (p = 0.03) and DMFS (p = 0.02), with 5-year OS and DMFS of 92% (p = 0.01) and 85% (p = 0.01) compared to 51% and 43%, respectively, for non-ASA users. In univariate analysis, pT stage, pN stage, and ASA use were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with OS and DFS. On multivariable analysis, ASA use (hazard ratio [HR], 0.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.8) and lymph node stage (HR, 5.9; 95% CI, 1.4-25.9) remained significant for OS and DFS ASA use (HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.56) and lymph node stage (HR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.9-16.4).

Conclusion: ASA use during remission was associated with significantly improved OS and DMFS in patients with IBC. These results suggest that ASA may provide survival benefits to patients with IBC. Prospective clinical trials of ASA use in patients with high-risk IBC in remission should be considered.

Keywords: Aspirin; Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms; Neoplasm Metastasis; Survival.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The effect of aspirin use on (A) disease free survival, (B) distant metastases free survival, and (C) overall survival.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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