The Need For More Research
- Weight loss drugs, like semaglutide injections known by their brand names Ozempic or Wegovy, are becoming more and more popular, prompting researchers to question whether these drugs can help those battling cancer. Recent studies have looked into monitoring weight with these types of drugs and how they align with breast cancer treatment.
- However, more research needs to be done when it comes to GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs being used amid cancer treatments.
- Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning that it mimics the effects of GLP-1 in the body. Given as weekly subcutaneous injections, it is normally prescribed to manage blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. It also leads to a significant amount of weight loss in these patients.
- A variety of drugs are currently available for weight loss, like Nova Nordisk’s semaglutide—sold under brand names Ozempic, Weygovy, and Rybelsu—and Tirzepatide, sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound. Others include Phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira), a prescription medication which lessens one’s appetite, Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion), and bupropion (the generic form of Wellbutrin).
- If you’re considering taking a weight loss drug, talk with your care team about whether that’s a good option for you. And make sure you consider good diet and exercise practices as a part of your treatment plan.
Some oncologist have started incorporating weight monitoring and management into clinical care to improve overall outcomes, but more research is needed to understand whether combining these medications is beneficial for one’s health amid a cancer fight.
Read MoreRecently, a study presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting looked into how GLP-1 agonist drugs affected women with breast cancer. Within 12 months of using GLP-1therapy, these women lost about five percent of their total body weight, which is less weight lost than women not battling breast cancer and taking the weight loss medication, Medscape Oncology reports.
Another recent study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, concluded that “breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy exhibit less significant weight loss with GLP-1 medication treatment than what has been observed in the general population. This suggests that endocrine therapy may reduce the weight-loss efficacy of GLP-1 medications in this particular patient group.”
According to Dr. Lajos Pusztai, MD, PhD, a breast cancer specialist and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut, Pusztai tells Medscape Oncology, that the goal around these news studies is to decipher whether managing a cancer patients’ weight will help with their disease outcomes.
Dr. Neil Iyengar, MD, abreast cancer oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC, has already started using weight loss medications to help those battling breast cancer manage their weight. Dr. Iyengar, who noted that nearly 40 percent of his patients are on these type of weight-loss drugs, said, “For a patient who has really tried to reduce their weight and who is in the obese range, that’s where I think the use of these medications can be considered.”
Iyengar is open to the idea of testing the effectiveness of GPL-1 agonists in oncology and figuring out how safe they are in battling cancer.
He added, “I don’t think that there’s mechanistically anything that’s particularly worrisome,” further noting, “GLP-1 agonists do a lot of things that we don’t fully understand yet.”
Also, a study published in Nature Partner Journals (NPJ) Breast Cancer suggests that adapting treatment plans to address weight changes could improve treatment outcomes.
Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, head of Breast Medical Oncology at Valley Health System, tells SurvivorNet, “Many breast cancer treatments can impact weight.”
“This study evaluated BMI at diagnosis and weight change at one year after diagnosis in relation to all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality,” Dr. Teplinsky added.
Meanwhile, a study from earlier this year, published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, found that adults treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) should a signification reduction in depression rates, suggesting these types of drugs may be a possibly treatment for those coping with depression.
Another study, published in the Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that GLP-1RAs show “substantial anti-inflammatory effects, rendering them promising therapeutic agents with broad clinical implications.” Study authors concluded, “They are very useful in a wide variety of diseases because they regulate immunological responses, block NF-κB activation, and decrease production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.”
Additionally, as per a study published this year in the Annals of Internal Medicine, there were reports of “reduced desire to smoke,” in patients taking semaglutide, typically prescribed for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
How Does Semaglutide Work?
Integral to blood sugar control, GLP-1 is a hormone released by the gut in response to food. It causes the pancreas to release insulin. A rising blood insulin level causes all the body tissues to start absorbing glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream, thereby lowering blood glucose levels. GLP-1 also prevents the release of glucagon, which is a hormone that raises blood sugar levels by stimulating liver cells to release glucose and helps people feel full for longer. These effects can also cause people to lose weight.
Modern studies on GLP-1 have shown that it has a role beyond glucose control. It modulates the immune system cells, including NK cells, in a way necessary for weight loss.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning that it mimics the effects of GLP-1 in the body. Given as weekly subcutaneous injections, it is normally prescribed to manage blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. It also leads to a significant amount of weight loss in these patients.
Although semaglutide has been approved for blood sugar control in people with type II diabetes, under the brand name Ozempic, and for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy, it has not been approved for use as an immune booster and cancer preventative. Thus, it should not be prescribed for that purpose. Those taking it to control their diabetes or weight, however, can expect the additional benefit of improving their immunity. as per a recent study, and lowering their cancer risk, as a link between weight and cancer does exist.
More On Obesity & Cancer Risk
In a earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Stephen Freedland of Cedars Sinai Medical Center said, “Some of the best data we have is that obesity increases the risk of not just getting prostate cancer, but actually dying from prostate cancer. Obese men are 35 percent more likely to die from prostate cancer.”
While obesity or a person’s high weight will not always cause them to develop cancer, other conditions associated obesity, like diabetes and heart disease, can lead to complications from cancer treatment if a person already has cancer. In addition, these conditions can sometimes prevent patients from receiving the recommended first-line therapies, as well as increase a patient’s risk of undergoing surgery.
Expert Resources On Healthy Living
- Major Reduction in Cancer Risk by Following Old Standbys Diet and Exercise
- New Hard Evidence That Exercise Measurably Reduces Anxiety– 150 Minutes Per Week Makes The Difference
- What to Know About Diet and Exercise if You Have Cancer
- Zero Booze is Best For Cancer Prevention & Five Hours Per Week Of Exercise! New American Cancer Society Prevention Guidelines
- Exercise and ‘Chemo Brain’: Can Physical Activity Save Breast Cancer Patients from Brain Fog During Chemotherapy?
- 8 Secrets to a Long, Healthy Life: Jacques Houot and the Fountain of Youth
Dr. Andrea Tufano-Sugarman of NYU Langone Health explained to SurvivorNet the benefits of losing weight.
“While all cancers cannot be prevented,” she said, “losing weight is a great way to reduce one’s risk.”
Sugar, The Western Diet And Cancer Prevention
Dr. Tufano-Sugarman said that this is especially true for women; they lower their risk of developing breast cancer and endometrial cancer when they lose weight and keep it of.
Obesity has also been linked to a variety of health issues like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal issues, mental health problems, cancer and reproductive health.
Even without losing weight, adopting a more nutritious diet can help.
“Food choices, independent of weight loss, may also help to reduce risk,” Dr. Tufano-Sugarman said. “Research has shown that the Mediterranean diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, fish and olive oil) is associated with a decreased risk of cancer. Whereas diets rich in red meat may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal and prostate cancer.”
How Can Diet Affect My Cancer Risk?
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), fat tissue “produces excess amounts of estrogen,” which is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. The NCI says a person who is severely obese is “7 times” more likely to be diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
Obesity is associated with high levels of insulin, which can lead to colon, kidney, prostate, and endometrial cancer. It can affect cancer survivors in various ways, including the chance of cancer recurrence and overall quality of life.
To learn more about your ideal healthy weight, determine your body mass index (BMI).
Body weight that exceeds what the body mass index deems appropriate for your weight and height can help determine body fat content. Although your BMI can help you learn if you are at a healthy weight, underweight, overweight, or obese, other factors may contribute to your overall health.
The NCI analyzed several studies to observe physical activity’s impact on overall cancer risk. The NCI says that “higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower risk of several types of cancer.”
Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and managing stress are some ways people can practice leading a healthy life. For cancer survivors, a healthier lifestyle alongside getting regular checks for recurrence may improve your quality of life.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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