Risk for Cancer With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Dual Agonists : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
GLP-1RAs may have little or no effect on risk for obesity-related cancers. Longer-term studies are needed to clarify potential risks or benefits.
Study context
- Population
- Participants in randomized placebo-controlled trials of GLP-1 RAs (T2D, overweight or obesity) reporting obesity-related cancer outcomes; databases to August 2025
- Participants
- 94,245 participants48 trials
- Comparison
- GLP-1 RAs vs placebo
- Outcome
- Risk for obesity-related cancer
Methodological detailsplacebo-controlled trials, random-effects meta-analysis, Cochrane Risk of Bias 2, GRADE, Included trials were not designed to evaluate cancer outcomes and had short follow-up
- Placebo-controlled trials
- Random-effects meta-analysis
- Cochrane Risk of Bias 2
- GRADE
- Included trials were not designed to evaluate cancer outcomes and had short follow-up
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Obesity-related cancers
GLP-1RAs vs PlaceboEstimate (95% CI)
1 fewer to 9 more cases per 10 000 patients treated; moderate certainty
OR (thyroid cancer) 1.37(0.82–2.31)
9 fewer to 6 more per 10 000; moderate certainty
OR (pancreatic cancer) 0.84(0.53–1.35)
10 fewer to 12 more per 10 000; moderate certainty
OR (breast cancer) 0.95(0.60–1.49)
5 fewer to 13 more per 10 000; moderate certainty
OR (kidney cancer) 1.12(0.78–1.60)
Further pooled results
Sensitivity and subgroup analyses
- Results consistent in low risk-of-bias trials, semaglutide or tirzepatide studies, and subgroups by follow-up duration, population, GLP-1RA class, weight loss profile, dose and duration of action
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Risk for Cancer With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Dual Agonists : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. Published 9 December 2025. doi:10.
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