A growing body of research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago suggests that widely used GLP-1 medications for weight loss and type 2 diabetes may also offer protection against several types of cancer and improve patient outcomes.
The studies examined patients using drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus), tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), dulaglutide (Trulicity), and other GLP-1-based therapies.
Researchers analysed clinical records and large real-world databases covering tens of thousands of patients.
Across more than two dozen studies, researchers found that GLP-1 users had lower cancer incidence, reduced disease progression, improved survival, and better responses to certain cancer treatments compared with non-users.
One study involving 110,000 women found that those taking GLP-1 medications were up to 35% less likely to develop breast cancer.
Another analysis of more than 12,000 patients reported that GLP-1 use was linked to a 38% to 50% lower risk of cancers progressing to metastatic disease, particularly in lung, breast, colorectal, and liver cancers.
Further findings suggested improved overall survival across multiple tumour types, including breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, liver, and kidney cancers, with some patients showing roughly a one-third reduction in mortality risk.
Researchers also observed better outcomes among cancer patients receiving immunotherapy treatments such as Keytruda, Opdivo, and Yervoy when they were also taking GLP-1 drugs, indicating possible immune system interactions.
Experts suggested that the potential protective effects may be linked to reduced inflammation, improved insulin signalling, and possible direct effects on tumour biology.
However, they stressed that the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
However, researchers cautioned that the findings are based largely on observational studies and do not prove causation. They noted that differences in patient health, access to care, and other treatments may have influenced outcomes.
Experts also emphasised that clinical trials are needed to confirm whether GLP-1 drugs directly reduce cancer risk or improve survival when used alongside standard cancer therapies.
Despite limitations, researchers said the consistency of results across multiple cancer types is notable and warrants further investigation into the broader medical benefits of GLP-1 medications.
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