GLP- 1 RA have been reported to decrease cancer incidence, but less is known about their potential in patients with active cancer. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that GLP-1 RA inhibit progression of solid tumor malignancies via downregulation of cellular proliferation pathways and improved glycemic control. Despite these promising findings, studies characterizing the effects of GLP-1 RA in patients with active cancer are limited.
Using TriNetX, a global database comprising over 120 million patients, we identified an overall cohort of 3747 patients with type 2 diabetes who received GLP-1 RA within 3 months of starting systemic therapy and identified 52,061 patients receiving metformin in the same timeframe as a control cohort. Additional sub-analyses stratified patients by hemoglobin A1c range, obesity, and by participants “newly started” on their first instance of GLP-1 RA within 3 months of starting cancer treatment. Results: Patients receiving GLP-1 RA had significantly reduced mortality in both the overall monotherapy setting (HR: 0.875, 95% CI: (0.778-0.985), p=0.0268) and the new start setting (HR: 0.786 , 95% CI: (0.662-0.934), p= 0.0062) cohorts. Secondary analyses found lower rates of all-cause hospitalization, sepsis, major adverse cardiovascular events, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonia in patients on GLP-1 RA. Sub-analyses stratified by BMI and A1c did not meet statistical significance.
Patients with diabetes and cancer who received GLP-1 RA experienced superior survival outcomes and reduced rates of hospitalization compared to patients receiving metformin. Additionally, patients already on metformin and newly started on GLP-1 RA demonstrated superior survival outcomes compared to patients newly started on insulin. Further prospective, well-controlled studies are needed to evaluate the benefits of GLP-1 RA in patients with diabetes and cancer.
Reference:
Aditya Mahadevan, Aidan Vosooghi, Jagmeet S Arora, Ruthvik Sunil Kumar, Gagandeep Singh, Katy K Tsai, Zoe Quandt, GLP- 1 Receptor Agonists in Patients with Cancer are Associated with Reduced All-Cause Mortality and Hospitalization, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2026;, dgaf703, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf703
Keywords:
GLP-1RA, cancer, survival, tirzepatide, semaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, dulaglutide, Aditya Mahadevan, Aidan Vosooghi, Jagmeet S Arora, Ruthvik Sunil Kumar, Gagandeep Singh, Katy K Tsai, Zoe Quandt, GLP- 1 Receptor Agonists
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.