In a recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open , a group of researchers assessed the association between Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) (drugs that mimic GLP-1 hormone to lower blood sugar) and the risk of thirteen obesity-associated cancers (OACs) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), compared to those prescribed insulin or metformin. Study: Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and 13 Obesity-Associated Cancers in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes . Image Credit: fotogurmespb / Shutterstock OACs are thirteen malignancies linked to excess body fat, increasing cancer risk, and worsening prognosis, and are further exacerbated by T2D.
GLP-1RAs are effective in treating T2D, promoting weight loss, reducing adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and resolving nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. They are hypothesized to reduce the risk of OACs, as evidenced by their association with lower colorectal cancer risk. However, systematic clinical evidence is limited, necessitating further research to evaluate GLP-1RAs' potential benefits in reducing the risk of all thirteen OACs.
The study utilized the TriNetX platform to access deidentified electronic health records (EHRs) of 113 million patients from 64 healthcare organizations across the United States (US), representing diverse demographic groups. The platform supports patient-level analyses and has been employed in various retrospective cohort studies. EHR data included demographics, diagnoses, medications,.
