Real life data from a major U.S. academic health system suggests that drugs originally made for diabetes and weight loss might also be cutting death rates for some cancers.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego reviewed records of more than 6,800 people diagnosed with colon cancer across University of California health facilities.
They found that patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists — the same class of medications used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, including Semaglutide, Wegovy, and Tirzepatide — had strikingly lower five-year mortality rates.
About 15.5 percent of users died, compared to around 37.1 percent of non-users.
Benefits Remain After Accounting for Other Factors
Even after adjusting for age, BMI, cancer stage, and other health conditions, the advantage held. Using one of these GLP-1 drugs was still linked to a much lower risk of death.
This suggests the benefit may go beyond just better glucose or weight control.
Possible Mechanisms Behind the Effect
Why might these medications help in cancer? One clue is that the effect seemed strongest in people with higher BMI, over 35.
GLP-1 drugs are known to affect inflammation, insulin sensitivity, and metabolism — all of which could influence cancer progression or survival.
Some lab studies even suggest that GLP-1 drugs might directly slow tumor growth, promote cancer-cell death, or change the tumor environment to make it less favorable for disease spread.
Observational Study Limitations
It’s important to note that this is an observational study.
The findings are compelling, but they do not prove that the drugs cause better survival in cancer.
Researchers emphasize the need for randomized clinical trials to test whether these medications really improve cancer outcomes, or whether the lower death rates come from generally better health in users.
Implications for Patients and Doctors
If further research confirms these findings, the implications could be significant. Doctors might consider GLP-1 drugs not only for diabetes and obesity but also as part of a broader strategy in cancers associated with obesity or metabolic risk.
For now, the results offer a promising new perspective on medications that are already widely used for other purposes.
What are the next steps then?
In short, if you have colon cancer and happen to be using a GLP-1 drug for diabetes or weight control, this study suggests there may be a larger potential benefit in the background.
More research is needed, but the possibility that a class of medication we already prescribe might reduce cancer deaths is cause for attention.
