Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center have found that common aspirin may help deter the development of deadly mesothelioma cancer. The common painkilling drug was found to block the inflammatory effects “HMBG1,” a molecule that plays a large role in the growth of malignant mesothelioma cancer cells.

Researchers believe that patients at particular risk for mesothelioma cancer, which includes construction workers, industrial workers and firemen, could reduce their risk of developing the disease by regularly taking aspirin. Mesothelioma cancer is most often caused by exposure to asbestos, a carcinogenic building material often used in insulation and construction.

Asbestos exposure leads to more than 3,000 mesothelioma deaths every year. The disease can take decades to develop after initial exposure. Tens of thousands of patients and their families have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against businesses alleging that they knowingly exposed their workers to asbestos while on the job.

Consumer Affairs

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