Ancient anti-inflammatory drug salicylic acid has cancer-fighting properties

Scientists have identified a new pathway by which salicylic acid — a key compound in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs aspirin and diflunisal — stops inflammation and tumor growth in cancer. Both salicylic acid and diflunisal suppress two key proteins that help control gene expression throughout the body. By inhibiting these proteins, the two drugs block the activation of other proteins involved in inflammation and cell growth, including one linked to leukemia.