- GLP-1 medications significantly lower mortality rates in colon cancer patients.
- Research analyzed over 6,800 patients to establish drug effectiveness for survival.
- Higher survival rates observed with GLP-1 drugs among patients with BMI over 35.
While drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are hailed for regulating blood sugar and helping people lose weight, new research suggests they may also reduce the risk of early death in colon cancer patients.
The study, from the University of California San Diego, looked at the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists — often called simply GLP-1 drugs — in an analysis of more than 6,800 colon cancer patients. They found those who were on the GLP-1 medications were less than half as likely to die within five years compared to patients who were not taking the drugs (15.5% vs. 37.1%).
The research is published in the journal Cancer Investigation.
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, behind lung cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It develops in the colon or rectum and usually begins with small, noncancerous polyps. If detected early, such as during a colonoscopy, the polyps can be removed before they become cancerous.
Outcomes from across the University of California Health Data Warehouse were used in the analysis. The researchers said in a news release that even after they adjusted for age, body mass index, disease severity and other health factors, GLP-1 users still had far lower odds of death, “suggesting a strong and independent protective effect.”
The survival effect was highest in those with BMI above 35, suggesting the drugs could help counteract inflammatory and metabolic challenges that worsen colon cancer prognosis. They cite known effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists: They reduce systemic inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity and promote weight loss, which are all linked to better outcomes with cancer.
Studies also hint that GLP-1 drugs might actually prevent cancer cell growth, kill cancer cells and reshape the tumor environment to make it less hospitable to cancer. Those, however, all require more research to determine if the effects observed are direct anti-cancer effects or the result of better metabolic health, the researchers said.
Other impacts of weight-loss drugs
New survey findings released last week by Gallup found that obesity rates have been dropping in the U.S. recently, down from nearly 40% in 2022 (a record high) to 37%.
According to ScienceAlert, “This equates to around 7.6 million fewer people being counted as obese compared to three years ago, meaning a potential future reduction in obesity-related health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, stroke and mental health issues.”
Gallup found that this year nearly 10% of men and just over 15% of women are using semaglutide or liraglutide drugs, which are all GLP-1s.
The article credits the increased use of GLP-1 drugs, and reports that about 1 in 8 adults now use one of them. As it notes, “GLP-1 is a natural hormone in the body that slows digestion, controls appetite and regulates blood sugar. Medications such as semaglutide (sold under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy) are known to activate the same pathways in the brain, providing a new means of helping manage weight."
Diabetes, on the other hand, has reached an all-time high of 13.8%, Gallup reported.
It’s worth noting that Gallup polls are self-reported and the findings are not peer reviewed.
Other studies have been looking at potential use of GLP-1 drugs. So far, it appears that besides weight loss and lowering blood sugar levels, they might improve cardiovascular health, reduce kidney disease, boost liver function and help with sleep apnea. All of those effects appear to be related to challenges from carrying excess pounds.
Cleveland Clinic has a list of GLP-1 agonists available in the U.S., including:
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity).
- Exenatide (Byetta).
- Exenatide extended-release (Bydureon).
- Liraglutide (Victoza).
- Lixisenatide (Adlyxin).
- Semaglutide injection (Ozempic).
- Semaglutide tablets (Rybelsus).
A similar class of medications called dual GLP-1 has a single approved drug on the market: tirzepatide (Mounjaro).
The article notes other “potential benefits” of the GLP-1 agonists, including lowering blood pressure, improving lipid disorders, reducing fatty liver disease, reducing incidence of heart or kidney disease and delaying progression of diabetes-related nephropathy.