Photo Illustration of the new Wegovy semaglutide tablets with injectable prescription weight loss medicines, Ozempic, Victoza and Wegovy. Its a prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and physical activity. (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
GLP-1 weight loss medications can decrease the risk of developing cancer, according to new research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The observational study looked at over 200,000 mammograms of women between the ages of 45 and 80 to assess breast cancer detection. Those that took GLP-1 medications were 30% less likely to develop breast cancer compared to women that didn’t take the drugs.
These drugs have been shown not only to decrease the risk of development of cancer, but also decrease progression of known cancers. In another recent study examining over 10,000 patients with early stage cancer, GLP-1 drugs reduced the progression of cancer to a more advanced stage across six different tumors, including colon, breast, liver and lung cancer. For example, the incidence of progression to stage IV lung cancer was 22.3% for patients not taking a GLP-1 drug compared to 10% for those taking a GLP-1 medication.
Although much more research is needed to prove a direct causal relationship between GLP-1 drugs and cancer reduction, the findings offer promise as a potential public health tool for cancer risk. Here are the public health implications for these new research findings.
Cancer Risk Reduction
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States, according to the CDC. Obesity is linked to at least 13 different cancers, including cancers of the breast, colon, liver and kidney. Given about 2 in 5 American adults are obese, curbing this chronic medical condition could have dramatic effects in decreasing the incidence of cancer. Traditional public health efforts have focused on cancer screening, tobacco cessation and lifestyle modifications. If research continues to show GLP-1 drugs can significantly reduce cancer risk, these medications could become a new tool in cancer prevention strategies.
Shift In Obesity Perception
Historically, obesity has been viewed as a lifestyle issue, as a result of the diet and activity one partakes in. Now, leading medical organizations like the World Health Organization recognize obesity as a chronic medical condition that can drive numerous other health ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and potentially even cancer. Effective treatment of obesity could have far-reaching consequences that extend beyond just weight management, affecting metabolic parameters such as heart disease and even cancer.
These drugs work by acting on different hormones that help regulate weight, insulin levels and craving centers in the brain. Although more research is needed, GLP-1 drugs trigger metabolic pathways that could be important in regulating inflammation, which is known to be an inciting factor in many different cancers. More research could shed light on these pathways that could lead to a greater understanding of the causes of cancer at a molecular level.
Caveats
Despite the promise of GLP-1 drugs with cancer, most studies to date have been observational studies and do not prove that these drugs can reduce the risk of cancer. Randomized controlled trials will be necessary to determine if the observed reductions in cancer risk are real and meaningful from a clinical perspective.
In addition, in order for these drugs to become a public health tool for cancer treatment or prevention, more information would be necessary such as what cancers are most affected by GLP-1s, how long patients need to remain on therapy for the desired protection and whether benefits differ between different GLP-1 medications.
The Future
The emerging evidence adds to an impressive list of benefits associated with GLP-1 drugs. Studies have shown that these medications can reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea and now possibly cancer. If ongoing studies confirm the early findings surrounding cancer, these therapies may be remembered not only for curbing the obesity epidemic but also reshaping the future of cancer prevention and public health.