Rs16973225

rs16973225 is a SNP on chromosome 15q25.2 near the IL16 gene.

In a long-term study of ~17,000 individuals and aspirin or NSAID use, the few (9%) with either an (A;C) or (C;C) genotype showed no risk reduction for colorectal cancer compared with (A;A) individuals among those taking anti-inflammatory drugs, who did benefit (prevalence, 28% vs 38%; (A;A) odds ratio 0.66 when taking aspirin/NSAID, CI: 0.62-0.71, p = 1.9 × 10e−30).

If this data is robust and all other factors are equal, this indicates that most people will lower their colorectal cancer risk by taking aspirin or NSAIDs, since most people have rs16973225(A;A) genotypes. However, the few people who are rs16973225(A;C) or are rs16973225(C;C) will not change their risk one way or the other by taking aspirin.

This same study reached somewhat similar conclusions about two other SNPs, rs10505806 and rs2965667.