A new study suggests that popular weight-loss medications may do more than just help with diabetes and obesity -- they could also modestly reduce the risk of developing certain cancers among adults with diabetes, according to findings released Thursday by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).Potential Cancer PreventionResearchers analyzed health records from more than 170,000 U.S. adults with both obesity and diabetes, focusing on those treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists -- a drug known for managing blood sugar and, more recently, for aiding weight loss. The study compared these patients to a similar group taking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, a class of diabetes drugs not associated with weight loss.
The study found that after four years, patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists showed a 7 percent lower risk of developing any of 14 obesity-related cancers and an 8 percent lower risk of death from any cause, compared to those taking DPP-4 inhibitors.
Study participants included adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and a diagnosis of diabetes. Each group -- those on GLP-1 receptor agonists and those on DPP-4 inhibitors -- consisted of 85,015 patients, matched for age, sex, race, and other characteristics to reduce bias.
However, the difference was not statistically significant in men. Researchers said they could not explain the gender disparity, but theorized that differences in drug metabolism or hormone levels might play a role.
Lead author Mavromatis highlighted a need for further research on GLP-1 receptor agonists.
"Our results suggest they may modestly cut the chance of developing certain cancers -- especially cancers of the colon and rectum -- and reduce rates of death due to all causes. These data are reassuring, but more studies are required to prove causation," he said in the press release.
The research team plans to continue monitoring patients for longer periods and hopes to study the cancer risk for people who take such agonists but do not have diabetes.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and will be presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago later this month.