Obesity treatment drugs have been studied for their anticancer effects in addition to their weight loss effects.
According to a study published in eClinicalMedicine, the first-generation obesity treatment medications, exenatide and liraglutide, have anticancer and weight-loss effects.
GLP-1 medications help treat type 2 diabetes and obesity by imitating the body’s natural GLP-1 hormone, which lowers blood sugar and prolongs feelings of fullness.
Obesity and diabetes are known risk factors for various “obesity-related cancers,” including postmenopausal breast cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, renal cell carcinoma, biliary tract cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, gastric cancer, and ovarian cancer.
The research team found that after an average eight-year follow-up, patients who received first-generation GLP-1RA drug treatment had similar rates of obesity-related cancers compared to those who underwent obesity surgery. However, GLP-1RA therapy proved 41% more effective in preventing these cancers.
Researchers analyzed data from Clalit Health Services, which serves half of Israel’s population. They looked at patients who either had obesity surgery or received first-generation GLP-1RA treatments like liraglutide, exenatide, or dulaglutide between 2010 and 2018.
The study included 6,356 patients over 24 years old with no cancer history, diagnosed with obesity (BMI over 35) and type 2 diabetes. Of these, 61% were women, with an average age of 52 and a median BMI of 41.5.
Participants were matched 1:1 based on gender, age, initial BMI, treatment start date, and smoking status. They were then monitored for obesity-related cancer diagnoses until December 2023.
After a median follow-up of 7.5 years, 299 patients were diagnosed with obesity-related cancers. Postmenopausal breast cancer was most common (77 cases, 26%), followed by colorectal cancer (49 cases, 16%) and endometrial cancer (45 cases, 15%).
Further analysis showed that among 3,178 patients who had obesity surgery, 150 were diagnosed with obesity-related cancers. Similarly, 148 of the 3,178 patients who received GLP-1RA drug therapy were diagnosed.
Researchers adjusted for maximum BMI changes during follow-up to compare effects beyond weight loss. They found that GLP-1RA drug therapy was 41% more effective than obesity surgery in preventing obesity-related cancers. The team noted that while the exact mechanisms of GLP-1 drugs aren’t fully understood, their metabolic and anticancer benefits cannot be explained by weight loss alone.
They hypothesize that GLP-1RA drugs may reduce obesity-related cancer risk through various anti-inflammatory mechanisms. However, the researchers caution that this is an observational study. They stress the need for future randomized controlled trials and large-scale prospective studies to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.
Most Commented