A popular class of diabetes and obesity drugs may help keep certain cancers at bay, new research suggests.
This new study was led by researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.
They were interested in studying the health benefits of GLP-1 drugs beyond diabetes and obesity.
Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs may reduce cancer risk.Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
Their earlier work hadsuggestedthat GLP-1s are associated with a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer specifically.
The latter two groups acted as a sort of control comparison.
Primarily, these drugs promote substantial weight loss, reducing obesity-related cancer risks.
They also enhance insulin sensitivity and lower insulin levels, decreasing cancer cell growth signals.
Not all the teams findings were good news.
Compared to those on metformin, people on GLP-1s did appear to have a higher risk of kidney cancer.
There was also no difference in the risk of thyroid cancer between insulin and GLP-1 users.
But the evidence of thisadded riskin humans has been inconclusive so far.
Another important wrinkle is that the study mostly covered the earliest eras of GLP-1 use.
Berger was also one of Wangs mentors.
Moving forward, prospective randomized clinical trials are essential to confirm theseassociations and establish causality.
Preclinical studies are needed to elucidate theunderlying mechanisms, she said.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
You May Also Like
Trump Is Promising to Lower Drug Prices.
