Weight-loss drugs may reduce cancer spread and risk, new research suggests

A study involving 12,000 cancer patients with breast, lung, bowel, and liver cancers found that those taking these medications were 38% to 50% less likely to develop stage-four cancer compared to those not using the drugs. Another analysis of 110,000 women aged 45 to 80 revealed that GLP-1 users were 30% less likely to develop breast cancer. Additionally, a separate study of 27,000 breast cancer patients showed that adding GLP-1 medications to standard treatment was associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of death.

Researchers, including Dr. Elizabeth McDonald from the University of Pennsylvania, suggest that GLP-1s may inhibit tumor growth through various metabolic and epigenetic effects, beyond their original purpose for diabetes treatment. While experts like Dr. Marcin Chwistek of Fox Chase Cancer Center acknowledge the broader anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties of GLP-1 receptor agonists, they emphasize the need for further studies to determine if the benefits stem from weight loss itself or other biological effects of the medications. Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky of the Valley Health System notes growing evidence of an impact on cancer risk and recurrence, and potential help with treatment side effects, despite the exact cause remaining unclear.