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Association between glucagon-like peptidase 1 receptor agonist and obesity-related cancer in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes: a nationwide cohort study

Xianhua Mao, Xinrong Zhang, Linda Henry, et al. JNCI: J. National Cancer Institute, 117:10, October 2025, 2053-2061

Among 919, 609 overweight or obese individuals with type 2 diabetes, 16 653 newly diagnosed with obesity-related cancer were recorded during the 2, 086 ,526 person-years of follow-up. GLP-1 agonist users (vs other glucose-lowering drugs users) were associated with lower incidence and risk of obesity-related cancer. This statistically significant association was consistent when comparing GLP-1 agonist with metformin, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor, and insulin, and was strengthened with increasing weight (overweight, mild to moderate, and severe obesity). In a nationwide US cohort of overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 agonist, when compared with other glucose-lowering drugs, was associated with a lower risk of obesity-related cancer, with more pronounced risk reduction with increasing body weight.                                                                                                                         

24 Mar, 2026