Can GLP1s Reduce Cancer Risk?
The drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists work by increasing stimulation of the receptors in the brain and in the stomach that signal the feeling of fullness, leading to decreased calorie intake.
A study published in JAMA compared the incidence of 14 cancer types among obese adults prescribed GLP-1s to nonusers. The study showed that the use of weight loss medications was associated with a 17% lower risk of cancer. Specifically, researchers noted a significantly reduced risk of endometrial, ovarian and meningioma cancers.
In this study, GLP-1RAs were associated with lower risks of specific types of obesity-associated cancers compared with insulins or metformin in patients with T2D. https://t.co/MQ5tgjMOFf
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) July 6, 2024
A similar study, also published in JAMA, found that people with type 2 diabetes treated with a class of GLP-1 drugs compared to those just on insulin were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with 10 of the 13 obesity-associated cancers, including gallbladder, pancreatic, colorectal and ovarian cancers.
Link Between GLP-1s and Cancer Risk
According to Monica Avila, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, the association between weight loss and diabetes drugs and a reduced cancer risk can be due to the decreased amount of available fat that has been linked to an elevated risk of solid malignancies.
“Regulating bioavailable fat is a powerful tool,” she explained. “In regulating your diet, you can regulate the amount of bioavailable fat, which in itself activates multiple cascades of pathways that have been implicated in cancer formation.”
Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors linked to uterine cancers in women. Excess body fat can lead to higher serum estrogen levels, which directly affect the health of the inner lining of the uterus, the endometrium. This can lead to cellular turnover that eventually forms into cancer.
Next Steps Using GLP-1s
Avila and other specialists at Moffitt are exploring how GLP-1 drugs can be used for primary and secondary cancer prevention.
“We are looking at how we might be able to stop or reverse a pre-cancer, particularly when it comes to uterine cancer,” she said. “We have even thought that there's a role for tertiary prevention, where patients who've already had a diagnosis and have gotten treatment for their uterine cancer may have a decreased chance of recurrence and improved survival if they're able to change their dietary intake and bioavailable fat.”
