Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and gastrointestinal cancer risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes
Authors' conclusion
GLP-1RA use is associated with a reduced risk of gastrointestinal cancers in individuals with type 2 diabetes. These findings suggest potential cancer-protective benefits of GLP-1RAs beyond their established roles in glycaemic management and weight reduction.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with T2D, TriNetX Research Network
- Exposure
- New users of GLP-1 RA vs users of other glucose-lowering medications
- Outcome
- Incidence of obesity-related gastrointestinal cancers
Methodological detailspropensity-score matched, new-user design, TriNetX Research Network
- Propensity-score matched
- New-user design
- TriNetX Research Network
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overall GI cancer
Adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
GLP-1RAsvs insulin
0.29(0.23–0.37)
GLP-1RAsvs metformin
0.84(0.71–0.99)
GLP-1RAsvs sulfonylureas
0.71(0.62–0.80)
GLP-1RAsvs thiazolidinediones
0.86(0.74–0.99)
GLP-1RAsvs dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors
0.80(0.70–0.91)
GLP-1RAsvs sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors
0.80(0.68–0.96)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Individual cancer types, GLP-1 RA vs insulin
- Significant risk reductions across all individual cancers vs insulin
Original publication
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and gastrointestinal cancer risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia. Published 5 June 2025. doi:10.
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