Could Popular Weight Loss Drugs Lower Cancer Risk?
- A class of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), has become popular with people who do not have the disease as a tool for weight loss.
- Now, a new study looked into whether the drugs, known by brand names like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, might also help reduce cancer risk.
- The study specifically looked at the risk of cancers related to obesity — such as colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer — and found that taking GLP-1RAs did reduce the risk of most obesity-related cancers.
- However, more research is needed. The study, published in JAMA, was an observational study—meaning that researchers analyzed existing medical records rather than conducting a controlled trial. This means they could not prove that GLP-1RAs directly prevent cancer, only that they are associated with a lower risk.
This finding is significant because obesity and type 2 diabetes are known to increase the likelihood of several types of cancer. If a widely used diabetes medication can also help prevent these cancers, it could be a game changer for millions of people.
Read MoreWhat Are GLP-1 Receptor Agonists?
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are a group of medications primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes. They help lower blood sugar levels by mimicking a natural hormone in the body that regulates insulin release and appetite. In recent years, these drugs—like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda)—have also gained popularity for their effectiveness in promoting weight loss. In the past year or so, story after story has been published about the surprising effects these drugs can have. In addition to weight loss, there have been reports that the drugs can reduce people’s desire to drink, help them quit smoking, and even resolve certain fertility issues. It’s been touted in the media as a sort of miracle drug, however, much more research is needed.Exploring the Benefits of Popular Weight Loss Drugs
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- 16 States Now Have Adult Obesity Rates At or Above 35%. What Does This Mean for Cancer Risk and Treatment?
- The Link Between Obesity and Prostate Cancer
- Prevention For Pancreatic Cancer That Took Alex Trebek? New Data Shows GLP-1 Drugs, Like Ozempic, Linked to 53% Drop
Scientists have long known that obesity is linked to higher cancer risk, but whether GLP-1RAs could reduce this risk had not been extensively studied—until now.
What Did the Study Find?
This wasn’t a small, quick study. Researchers combed through the medical records of more than 1.6 million people in the U.S. with type 2 diabetes. Then, they separated folks into three groups:
- People who took GLP-1RAs (like Ozempic or Wegovy).
- People who took insulin.
- People who took metformin (a very common diabetes drug)
They followed patients for up to 15 years, checking for 13 cancers known to be linked with obesity, such as colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer.
Patients who took GLP-1RAs had a lower risk of developing 10 out of the 13 obesity-related cancers compared to those who used insulin. The cancers with reduced risk included:
- Colorectal cancer: 46% lower risk (HR: 0.54)
- Pancreatic cancer: 59% lower risk (HR: 0.41)
- Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma): 53% lower risk (HR: 0.47)
- Endometrial cancer: 26% lower risk (HR: 0.74)
- Kidney cancer: 24% lower risk (HR: 0.76)
- Gallbladder cancer: 65% lower risk (HR: 0.35)
- Ovarian cancer: 48% lower risk (HR: 0.52)
- Esophageal cancer: 46% lower risk (HR: 0.60)
- Meningioma (a type of brain tumor): 63% lower risk (HR: 0.37)
- Multiple myeloma (a blood cancer): 41% lower risk (HR: 0.59)
For stomach cancer, there was also a lower risk, but the difference was not statistically significant.
However, there was no reduction in risk for postmenopausal breast cancer or thyroid cancer, meaning that GLP-1RAs do not seem to have an effect on these specific cancers.
What does HR mean here?
In medical research, a hazard ratio (HR) is a way to compare the risk of an event happening in one group versus another. An HR of 1.0 means there is no difference between groups. If the HR is less than 1, it means the group taking the medication had a lower risk of developing cancer compared to the other group. If the HR is greater than 1, it means the risk was higher in that group. For example, an HR of 0.54 for colorectal cancer means that patients taking GLP-1RAs were 46% less likely to develop colorectal cancer compared to those taking insulin.
How Do GLP-1RAs Potentially Reduce Cancer Risk?
There are several possible explanations for this protective effect:
- Weight Loss: GLP-1RAs help people lose weight, and since obesity is a major risk factor for many cancers, this alone could be reducing cancer risk.
- Lower Insulin Levels: High insulin levels are linked to cancer growth. GLP-1RAs improve insulin regulation, reducing insulin resistance and possibly slowing down cancer cell growth.
- Reduced Inflammation: Obesity and diabetes can lead to chronic inflammation, which can contribute to cancer development. By improving metabolic health, GLP-1RAs may lower inflammation levels in the body.
While GLP-1RAs were clearly associated with lower cancer risk compared to insulin, the results were more mixed when compared to metformin, another widely used diabetes medication. In fact, GLP-1RAs were not associated with a lower risk of any cancers compared to metformin, and they were even linked to a higher risk of kidney cancer (HR: 1.54). This suggests that while GLP-1RAs may be beneficial for many cancer types, metformin remains an important drug with its own potential anti-cancer effects.
What This Means for Patients
This study provides promising evidence that GLP-1RAs could offer cancer-protective benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, it is important to keep in mind that this was an observational study—meaning that researchers analyzed existing medical records rather than conducting a controlled experiment. This means they could not prove that GLP-1RAs directly prevent cancer, only that they are associated with a lower risk.
If you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes and is at higher risk for cancer, it may be worth discussing GLP-1RAs with your doctor. These medications have already been proven to help with blood sugar control and weight loss, and this new research suggests they may have even more benefits. However, as with any medication, they also come with potential risks, including gastrointestinal side effects and cost considerations.
Future Research is Needed
While this study is an exciting step forward, more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the biological mechanisms at play. Clinical trials designed specifically to examine the cancer-protective effects of GLP-1RAs would be the next logical step.
Additionally, given the study’s finding that GLP-1RAs may increase the risk of kidney cancer compared to metformin, future studies should explore this potential risk in more detail.
Takeaway: A Step Toward Cancer Prevention?
The relationship between diabetes, obesity, and cancer is complex, but this study provides encouraging evidence that GLP-1RAs may help reduce the risk of several obesity-related cancers. If you are currently managing type 2 diabetes, this research may offer an added reason to explore whether GLP-1RAs are right for you.
As always, if you have concerns about cancer risk, diabetes treatment, or obesity, speak with a healthcare provider who can offer personalized guidance. New discoveries like this highlight the importance of ongoing research in finding better ways to prevent and treat cancer.
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