Dr. Ahmed The fight against cancer is not too simple, as it requires various approaches like prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Researchers all around the world are looking for a new or better treatment option to prevent cancer.
Recent studies have shown that drugs used for other conditions, like diabetes, could help reduce the risk of cancer. An example of such medicines is GLP-1 RAs.
Research published in JAMA Network Open suggests that GLP-1 RAs might lower the risk of 10 out of 13 cancers that are linked to obesity.
GLP-1 Use and Cancer Risk: Understanding the Connection:
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are drugs that are like the natural hormone GLP-1, which is produced in the gut.
This helps control blood sugar by:
- Stimulating insulin production,
- Reducing glucagon secretion,
- Slowing gastric emptying, and
- Increasing feelings of satiety.
This will eventually manage blood sugar levels and help with losing weight in people with type 2 diabetes.
Obesity increases the risk of certain cancers due to severe inflammation, changes in hormones, and insulin resistance [ref].
Thirteen types of cancer, known as ‘obesity-associated cancers’ (OACs), are very common and severe in those with excess weight, like obesity.
So, GLP-1 receptor agonists help with weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity, which might reduce the risk of these cancers.
If you put two and two together, GLP-1 RAs could have benefits beyond just managing blood sugar levels.
GLP-1 Analogs Reduce Obesity-Associated Cancer Risk:
Researchers did a retrospective cohort study in which they used electronic health records from over 1.7 million patients with T2DM.
They divided the patients into three groups:
- Those taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)
- Those taking insulin
- Those taking metformin.
Then, they compared the rates of obesity-associated cancer (OAC) development among these groups, and they also aimed to determine if GLP-1 analogs are linked to a reduced risk of these cancers.
Their results were quite encouraging, as compared to those of insulin users, patients taking GLP-1RAs showed a much lower risk for 10/13 OACs.
| Cancer type | Description | Relative Risk Reduction vs. Insulin Users |
| Gallbladder cancer | The gallbladder stores bile and helps in digestion. 1.7% of all deaths from cancers are due to gallbladder cancers. | 65% |
| Meningioma | It is a benign tumor of the meninges (covering the brain and spinal cord). Most of these are benign (noncancerous), but some can be malignant (cancerous). Obese individuals are more likely to develop meningioma than lean people. | 63% |
| Pancreatic cancer | It is a very aggressive cancer with poor outcomes. Obese individuals are 20 times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than lean individuals. | 59% |
| Liver cancer | Hepatocellular cancer is common in patients with cirrhosis. Obese individuals are 1.9 times more likely to develop HCC than lean individuals. | 53% |
| Ovarian cancer | Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. It is more common in obese women. | 48% |
| Colorectal cancer | Colorectal cancer is very common. It is estimated that 1 in 24 people will develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime. It is 1.3 times more common in overweight and obese individuals. | 46% |
| Multiple myeloma cancer | It is a cancer of the plasma cells. There is no strong association between obesity and multiple myeloma. However, obese individuals have a 73% chance of having MGUS. | 41% |
| Esophageal cancer | Esophageal cancer has no strong link with being obese or overweight. | 40% |
| Endometrial cancer | It is the cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrium). Obese postmenopausal women are more likely to develop endometrial cancer than non-obese. | 26% |
| Kidney cancer | Kidney cancer is slightly more common in overweight individuals. The hazard ratio of developing cancer in obese individuals vs lean individuals is 1.3. | 24% |
The study found that patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists showed a trend towards a lower risk of stomach cancer, but this was not statistically significant.
The drugs did not affect the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer or thyroid cancer.
Importance of the findings:
Researchers have suggested a new way to prevent cancer, especially for people with type 2 diabetes who already face higher risks of certain cancers because they are overweight.
GLP-1RAs might help more than just controlling blood sugar as they are capable of offering a way to manage diabetes in different ways and possibly lower the chances of getting certain cancers.
GLP-1 Analogs and Cancer Risk: More Studies Are Needed
While the research gives strong initial clues, it’s crucial to note that this was an observational study, not a controlled trial where participants were randomly assigned.
Observational studies can find connections between things but can’t definitively show one thing causes another.
More research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which these drugs can change cancer risk.
Moreover, preclinical and clinical trials are important to confirm the results and find out the efficiency of GLP-1RAs for cancer prevention in diabetic populations.
Takeaway:
Studies have found that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may lower the risk of cancers linked to obesity, like colorectal cancer.
Research shows that people taking GLP-1RAs have a lower chance of getting colorectal cancer compared to those using other diabetes medicines such as insulin and metformin.
This suggests that GLP-1RAs might help prevent cancer, offering extra health benefits beyond their main use. As more research is done, GLP-1RAs could be important for overall health.
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