[Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents for chemoprevention of colorectal polyps: a meta-analysis]

To assess whether or not non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) might prevent colorectal polyps.

A systematic review of all relevant randomized controlled trials was performed. We searched all randomized controlled trials of chemoprevention of colorectal polyps. Abstracts was included.

8 trials were assessed in the final systematic analysis. We found a sufficient evidence to support that aspirin might prevent the development of colorectal adenomas in comparing with placebo group in two trails of high quality and large sample (P = 0.003). However, there is no evidence to support that sulindac and celecoxib might cure or prevent colorectal adenomas or familial adenomatous polyposis (P > 0.05) and also no evidence to support that dosage of NSAIDs is related with the result of prevention of colorectal adenomas. It was shown that regular aspirin use for 30-60 months cannot reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (P = 0.8). No significant difference in the number of adverse events was found between patients taking NSAIDs and those given placebo (P = 0.9).

Aspirin might prevent the development of colorectal adenomas, but there is no evidence to support that sulindac and celecoxib might cure or prevent colorectal adenomas or familial adenomatous polyposis and that regular aspirin use might reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.