Chiho Muranushi, et al, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether the use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce the risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The researchers reviewed published epidemiologic studies and calculated summary estimates for aspirin, nonaspirin NSAIDs and any NSAID use, which included nine studies (five case–control, three cohort, and one intervention). Their findings indicated that NSAIDs have the potential to prevent the development of cutaneous SCC.
Summary estimates indicated a significantly reduced risk of SCC among patients who used nonaspirin NSAIDs, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.85 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78 to 0.94 compared with nonusers; and a significantly reduced risk of SCC among users of any NSAIDs (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.94) compared with nonusers. A reduced risk was also observed among aspirin users, although with borderline statistical significance (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.03).
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