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GLP-1 agonists, the new weight-loss injections, lower weight by 15-20%. Early observational data suggest fewer obesity-related cancers in people who take them, but no trial has yet tested cancer as an outcome.
Obesity is causally linked to at least 13 cancers (IARC 2016). Semaglutide and tirzepatide produce 15-22% weight loss in trials and reduce cardiovascular events (SELECT, NEJM 2023). Several large cohort and target-trial-emulation studies in people with type 2 diabetes report 10-40% lower incidence of obesity-associated cancers (notably endometrial, kidney, liver, pancreatic and colorectal) with GLP-1 receptor agonists compared with insulin or other glucose-lowering drugs, and a signal for lower cancer risk than bariatric surgery in one study; these are observational with short follow-up and prone to immortal-time and surveillance biases. Thyroid C-cell tumours in rodents led to a label warning, with no convincing human medullary thyroid cancer signal so far; pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer concerns have not been borne out. Because these drugs are now used by millions, a randomised trial with cancer incidence as a primary endpoint, or pre-specified cancer endpoints in ongoing outcome trials, is feasible and important.
Sustained weight loss lowers adiposity-driven insulin, oestrogen and inflammatory signalling; GLP-1 receptor agonists may also have direct anti-proliferative or immunomodulatory effects independent of weight.
Query for this technology: (TITLE:"GLP-1 receptor agonists and obesity-related cancer risk" OR ABSTRACT:"GLP-1 receptor agonists and obesity-related cancer risk") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about GLP-1 receptor agonists and obesity-related cancer risk, not a curated reading list.
Shares A trial of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs with cancer as the primary outcome, Funding follows fashion, not burden, Prevention we already have is not deployed, Endometrial cancer.
Shares GLP-1 receptor agonists as adjuvant weight-loss therapy in HR-positive breast cancer, Energy balance, Dietitian-led weight-loss programmes in HR-positive breast cancer, Obesity-related cancers (IARC list of 13).
Shares Obesity-related cancers (IARC list of 13), Endometrial cancer, Renal cell carcinoma, Hepatocellular carcinoma.
Shares Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, Energy balance, Diet, exercise and lifestyle roadmap: causes established → interventions that disappointed → exercise proven as treatment, Prevention we already have is not deployed.
Shares Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, Energy balance, Dietitian-led weight-loss programmes in HR-positive breast cancer, Obesity-related cancers (IARC list of 13).
Shares Energy balance, Lipid synthesis, uptake & cholesterol, Diet, exercise and lifestyle roadmap: causes established → interventions that disappointed → exercise proven as treatment, Prevention we already have is not deployed.
Shares Chemoprevention & risk-reducing surgery, Diet, exercise and lifestyle roadmap: causes established → interventions that disappointed → exercise proven as treatment, Cancer prevention roadmap: tobacco control and vaccines → biomarker-guided chemoprevention → interception in carriers, Prevention we already have is not deployed.
Shares Diet, exercise and lifestyle roadmap: causes established → interventions that disappointed → exercise proven as treatment, Cancer prevention roadmap: tobacco control and vaccines → biomarker-guided chemoprevention → interception in carriers, Prevention we already have is not deployed, Hepatocellular carcinoma.