GLP-1 Medications Linked to Reduced Cancer risk, Especially in Ovarian and Endometrial cancers
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A new study suggests that medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro may offer a surprising benefit beyond weight loss and diabetes management: a reduced risk of certain cancers. Researchers found that individuals taking GLP-1 receptor agonists experienced a 17% lower overall cancer incidence compared to those not using these drugs, with particularly notable reductions in ovarian, endometrial, and some brain tumors.
Obesity is a well-established risk factor for cancer, accounting for up to 40% of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. However, until recently, limited data existed on whether emerging obesity medications could directly impact cancer risk. “Obesity is one of the strongest risk factors for cancer, yet we’ve had very little data on whether new obesity drugs affect cancer risk,” explained a senior study author, Serena Jingchuan Guo, MD, PhD, an associate professor and the AI director at the Purdue University College of pharmacy in Indiana.
Large-Scale Study Examines Real-World Cancer Rates
The research team analyzed electronic health records of over 1.7 million individuals with obesity, comparing cancer rates between those who used GLP-1s and those who did not. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, spanned from 2016 to 2022 and included data from a large healthcare database.
Cancers Showed the Moast Dramatic Risk Reduction
While the overall cancer risk was reduced, certain cancer types exhibited more substantial benefits associated with GLP-1 use. The most significant risk reductions were observed in:
- Ovarian cancer: 47% risk reduction
- Meningioma (a type of brain tumor): 31% risk reduction
- endometrial cancer: 25% risk reduction
Researchers also noted a small increase in kidney cancer among GLP-1 users, particularly those under 65 and overweight, but deemed this increase not statistically significant, recommending further investigation.
How Could GLP-1s Impact Cancer Risk?
The link between obesity and cancer is complex, involving chronic inflammation and hormonal imbalances associated with excess weight. “GLP-1s likely reduce cancer risk mostly by helping people lose weight, lowering their blood sugar, and decreasing inflammation – factors we know drive obesity-related cancers,” stated Dr. Guo. Ther is also emerging evidence suggesting that these drugs may directly influence cancer biology, though this remains an area of ongoing research.
Arif Kamal, MD, the chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society, emphasized the importance of understanding how weight loss is achieved. “It’s encouraging to see that GLP-1s may be one way to get there, but we need to learn more over time about whether how you get to that weight loss is important – and whether there are other biological effects in addition to weight loss that are associated with GLP-1s that also speak to lower cancer risk,” he said.
The findings are particularly impactful regarding estrogen-related cancers, such as endometrial and ovarian cancers, which are ofen linked to obesity and hormonal factors.”Endometrial and ovarian cancers are common and highly linked to obesity and hormonal factors. Reducing their risk has meaningful implications for health and oncology,” noted Nupur Kikani, MD, an assistant professor at the University of texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, who was not involved in the study. Kamal added that endometrial cancer, which is increasing in incidence, particularly among Black populations, often carries a high mortality rate, making prevention efforts crucial.
While promising,the study authors acknowledge the need for longer-term data from larger sample sizes to confirm these findings. Kikani cautioned that the observational nature of the study only demonstrates association, not causation, and that the short-term follow-up may not capture the full long-term effects of cancer growth. “The benefits are promising but not definitive. They should be weighed against other health side effects and drug costs,” she said, emphasizing the importance of individualized discussions with healthcare providers. Currently, GLP-1s are primarily indicated for diabetes and weight management, with cancer risk reduction considered a potential added benefit.
