ASCO 2026: GLP-1s could reduce the risk of some obesity-related cancers progressing
Original story from the ASCO Annual Meeting
Real-world data shows that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) may reduce metastatic progression of certain obesity-related cancers, namely lung, breast, colorectal, and liver cancers. In addition, GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression was associated with overall survival, suggesting that GLP-1 signaling could be involved in the progression of these cancers. The research will be presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, taking place May 29 to June 2 in Chicago.
Study at a Glance
| Focus | People with stage I, II, or III cancer taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Population | 12,112 people from around the world |
| Main Takeaway | In people with lung, breast, colorectal or liver cancer at stage I, II, or III, taking GLP-1s may reduce the risk of progressing to stage IV. |
| Significance | About 29 to 40 million people in the United States have diabetes, which makes them 1 to 2 times more likely to develop certain types of cancer than people who don’t have diabetes. This is because the metabolic dysfunction of diabetes creates an environment in which cancer can grow, including high levels of insulin and sugar in the blood as well as chronic inflammation. |
| GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) and DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) both manage diabetes by controlling metabolism, including by stimulating insulin release and controlling blood sugar levels, but GLP-1s are more potent. GLP-1s also have stronger anti-inflammatory effects than gliptins. | |
| Studies suggest that GLP-1s may prevent development of certain types of cancer, primarily colorectal and other obesity-related cancers. | |
| Although use of GLP-1s is becoming increasingly common, and many people with diabetes also have cancer, little is known about the effects of these medicines on cancer. Some studies show they may lower the risk that cancer will develop. Researchers wanted to know if, in people who already have cancer, GLP-1s can prevent the disease from metastasizing. |
About the study
This study used real-world data to compare the effects of GLP-1s and DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) on cancer progression for 7 obesity-related cancers: breast adenocarcinoma, prostate adenocarcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular (liver) carcinoma, renal cell (kidney) carcinoma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Investigators aimed to find out if people who took GLP-1s were less likely to progress to metastatic cancer than those who took gliptins. The study included the health records of 12,112 people in the TriNetX database who had 1 of those 7 cancer types at stage I, II, or III. About 55% to 60% of participants were White, 20% to 25% were Black or African American, and 10% to 15% were Asian. Half had started taking a GLP-1 drug (liraglutide, pramlintide, dulaglutide, tirzepatide, lixisenatide, or semaglutide) and half had started taking a gliptin after their cancer diagnosis. The study compared the number of people in both groups who progressed to stage IV cancer.
The researchers also wanted to understand if the GLP-1 system itself plays a role in how these cancers behave. Previous studies show that GLP-1R expression on tumor cells is associated with better overall survival for some cancer types but poorer survival for others. To begin to answer this question, they looked at data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, comparing tumor expression of GLP-1R to overall survival for the 7 cancer types.
Key findings
- For 4 of the 7 cancer types—lung, breast, colorectal, and liver—people who took GLP-1s were 38% to 50% less likely to develop stage IV cancer than people who took gliptins. In those 4 types, metastasis occurred in a lower percentage of the GLP-1 group than the gliptin group:
- Lung: 10% (GLP-1) vs. 22% (gliptin)
- Breast: 10% vs. 20%
- Colorectal: 13% vs. 22%
Liver: 19% vs. 28%
- For 3 other cancer types—prostate, pancreatic, and kidney—the GLP-1 group had fewer instances of metastasis than the gliptin group, but the differences were not statistically significant.
- Overall, high tumor GLP-1R expression was associated with a 33% lower risk of death compared to low expression. This was particularly true for breast cancer, in which the risk was reduced by 45%. The association of high GLP-1R to better survival suggests that GLP-1’s actions could be protective in these cancers, which in turn suggests that GLP-1 drugs may be protective.
Adverse events in the GLP-1 and gliptin groups were similar. Instances of stomach or pancreas inflammation were not higher in the GLP-1 group compared to the gliptin group, even though those conditions are associated with GLP-1 use and with cancer.
“Our study found that use of GLP-1 drugs, compared to DPP-4 inhibitors and other antidiabetic drugs, was associated with a meaningful reduction in cancer progression across 4 solid tumor types. It provides early evidence that future studies are worth pursuing,” said lead study author Mark David Orland, MD, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
Next steps
Ongoing research will look at how GLP-1s might be controlling cancer progression: For example, by directly telling cancer cells or the cells that support them to stop growing, by affecting the immune system and how it attacks cancer cells, by reducing inflammation, or by changing how cancer cells get fuel.
In addition, the researchers want to perform randomized controlled trials of GLP-1 drugs in people with cancer, which would provide stronger evidence for the connection between GLP-1s and cancer progression.
This study did not have external funding.
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