PEOPLE with obesity who take glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have a reduced risk of cancer compared to those not using those medications, according to US research published today in JAMA Oncology.

GLP-1RAs are the class of diabetes and weight loss drugs including semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro).

The team looked at cancer diagnoses over a 10-year period in around 40,000 adults with obesity or who were overweight using the drugs, and compared the findings with 40,000 non-users.

The team focused on 14 cancers, most of which were associated with obesity, and found that those taking GLP-1RAs had a 17% reduction in risk for any type of cancer.

Reduction in risk was even greater for endometrial (25%), ovarian (47%) and meningioma (31%) cancers, while non-significant reductions were noted for pancreatic, bladder and breast cancers.

However, there was a slightly increased – but non-significant – risk of kidney cancer among the GLP-1RA cohort, which is consistent with another recent study that reported an increased risk of kidney cancer among people with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1RAs compared to those taking metformin.

The researchers said the link needs further investigation.

The team suggested that the overall findings raise the hypothesis that GLP-1RAs may be associated with a lower risk of hormone-sensitive cancers.

“Given that more than 137 million individuals in the US are currently eligible for GLP-1RA therapies, even modest changes in cancer risk could have substantial public health implications,” wrote the authors.

Read the paper HERE. KB

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