A new study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine has revealed that weight-loss medications and bariatric surgery may significantly lower the risk of obesity-related cancers (ORC). The research, conducted by Clalit Health Services in Tel Aviv, Israel, analyzed data from 6,356 participants with obesity and diabetes who had no history of ORC. Half of the participants used GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), while the other half underwent bariatric metabolic surgery (BMS). The study found that GLP-1 RAs were associated with a 41% relative risk reduction in ORC development, indicating that these medications may provide cancer prevention benefits beyond weight loss. The findings suggest that GLP-1 RAs could be a valuable tool in reducing cancer risk for individuals with obesity, offering an additional benefit to their therapeutic profile.
Obesity is a well-established risk factor for several types of cancer, including multiple myeloma, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, stomach, colorectal, liver, bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas, uterus, ovary, renal-cell kidney, thyroid, and postmenopausal breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers emphasized that while obesity contributes to cancer risk, the study’s results indicate that GLP-1 RAs may provide a direct impact on reducing this risk, even beyond the effects of weight loss. This effect could be attributed to the drugs’ anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce chronic inflammation, a known contributor to various cancers.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Yael Wolff Sagy from Clalit Health Services, noted that the findings highlight the existence of additional pathways, beyond weight loss, in which GLP-1 RAs contribute to decreased risk of ORC. Dr. Niketa Patel, a professor at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, added that obesity is associated with chronic inflammation, and GLP-1 RAs may help reduce this inflammation, thereby lowering the risk of ORC. Other experts, including Dr. Britta Reierson, have suggested that GLP-1 RAs could have multiple mechanisms for reducing cancer risk, including metabolic improvements, immune modulation, and potential epigenetic changes.
However, the study is observational, meaning that it does not provide the same level of evidence as randomized controlled trials. Researchers acknowledged that while the findings are promising, more research is needed to confirm these potential effects and to determine whether GLP-1 RAs can be considered as a cancer prevention option. Further studies would also be necessary to assess the effectiveness of different GLP-1 RAs and their long-term safety profiles. Despite these limitations, the study’s results suggest that weight-loss medications like GLP-1 RAs could offer significant value beyond their primary role in managing diabetes and obesity, potentially contributing to cancer prevention strategies.