GLP-1 drugs may lower risk of some cancers spreading, study suggests
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- A Cleveland Clinic-led study suggests that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound may reduce the progression of certain obesity-related cancers, including lung, breast, colorectal, and liver cancers.
- The observational study analyzed data from over 12,000 patients with stage 1-3 cancers and found significantly lower rates of cancer progression in six of seven cancer types among GLP-1 drug users compared to those on DPP-4 inhibitors.
- Notably, lung and breast cancer patients taking GLP-1 drugs showed about half the progression rates to stage 4 disease compared to controls, and higher GLP-1 receptor levels were linked to improved survival.
- Researchers caution that while results are promising, the study cannot prove causation and emphasize the need for larger randomized clinical trials to confirm these potential anti-tumor benefits.
- No increase in serious side effects was observed in cancer patients taking GLP-1 drugs, but experts advise against using these medications as cancer treatments until further research is conducted.