Substantiating the usefulness of aspirin against malignancy of hereditary colon cancer, a study led by scientists at Newcastle University revealed that a daily dose of aspirin, taken for at least five years, can reduce the chances of developing the disease in the high-risk groups.

Presenting the study, funded by UK cancer research funds and Bayer, at the Berlin conference of European Cancer Organization and European Society for Medical Oncology, the researchers said that aspirin probably affects the survival of damaged cells before they turn malignant.

The research team observed 1,071 people with Lynch syndrome, - an inherited genetic mutation that increases colon cancer vulnerability - giving half of the patients a 600 milligram daily dose of aspirin for nearly four years, vis-à-vis the other half that got placebo pills.

Only 6 patients in the group that received aspirin developed colon cancer, as against 16 people in the group that got placebos.

Noting the usefulness of aspirin, 110- year-old medicine first patented in 1899 by German drugmaker Bayer, study author John Burn - a professor at Newcastle University's Institute of Human Genetics - said: "At least in a high-risk group, we've got a treatment that works, that we know the side effects of, and it's cheap."

However, Burn also added: "The benefits are probably not seen in the general population for at least 10 years."