As the use of popular weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists continues to expand, researchers are increasingly examining whether the medications could influence cancer risk, one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
Research into the relationship between GLP-1 drugs and cancer remains in its early stages, and findings to date have been mixed. Some studies suggest the medications may reduce the risk of developing certain cancers or improve survival after diagnosis, while others show little or no effect. In a few cases, researchers have observed a slight increase in risk for specific cancers. Experts caution that the long-term effects of these drugs are still not fully understood.
“We don’t know all the good effects, but we don’t know all the bad effects either,” said Dr Sherry Shen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
A large study involving more than 1.6 million people with Type 2 diabetes found that GLP-1 users had a significantly lower risk of 10 out of 13 obesity-related cancers compared with patients treated with insulin, according to findings published in 2024 in JAMA Network Open.
Another large-scale study published in August 2025 found that adults with obesity who took GLP-1 drugs had a significantly reduced overall cancer risk. The protective effect was most pronounced for endometrial, ovarian and meningioma cancers, though researchers also noted a non-significant increase in kidney cancer risk.
“Overall, there appears to be a protective effect,” said Jiang Bian of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “But the impact varies depending on cancer type and patient population.”
Not all studies have shown clear benefits. A review of 48 randomised controlled trials published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concluded that GLP-1 drugs may have little or no effect on the risk of obesity-related cancers across a range of cancer types.
Some research suggests the drugs may improve survival among patients already diagnosed with cancer. A study published in July 2025 found that older adults with cancer and Type 2 diabetes who used GLP-1s had lower mortality rates. Another study reported that colon cancer patients taking GLP-1 drugs had less than half the five-year mortality rate of non-users.
Experts say the potential cancer-related benefits may stem from weight loss, improved metabolic health and reduced inflammation. Obesity is a major risk factor for many cancers, and reducing excess body fat may lower that risk.
Scientists are also studying whether GLP-1 drugs have direct effects on cancer cells. Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are examining their impact on liposarcoma, a rare cancer originating in fat tissue, with early findings suggesting the drugs may influence tumour cell behaviour.
Despite the promising evidence, doctors stress that GLP-1 drugs are not a cure-all and should only be used under medical supervision. The medications are costly, intended for long-term use and can cause side effects.
“GLP-1 drugs aren’t Band-Aids that fix everything,” Shen said.
Source: WP/JN
BD-pratidin English/ Jisan
