GLP-1 medications have become widely known for their role in treating type 2 diabetes and supporting weight loss. Now, emerging research suggests these drugs may offer another important benefit: helping slow the progression of certain obesity-related cancers, as well as breast cancer.
A new study presented at the 2026 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) found that patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists after a cancer diagnosis experienced significantly lower rates of cancer progression and death compared to patients taking other diabetes medications.
GLP-1 receptor agonists, which include medications commonly prescribed for diabetes and obesity management, have attracted growing scientific interest in recent years. Researchers have increasingly explored whether the drugs’ effects extend beyond controlling blood sugar and promoting weight loss.
According to Dr. Marcin Chwistek, chief of supportive oncology and palliative care at Fox Chase Cancer Center and an ASCO expert in supportive care, GLP-1 medications may influence several biological pathways linked to cancer development and progression. Researchers believe the drugs’ anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating effects could play a role in improving outcomes for cancer patients.
What the studies found
The research team analyzed health records from more than 12,000 patients diagnosed with one of seven obesity-related cancers at stages 1, 2, or 3. The investigators compared patients who began taking GLP-1 medications after their cancer diagnosis with similar patients who were treated with a different class of diabetes drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors, or gliptins.
The results were notable. Patients using GLP-1 medications showed a meaningful reduction in cancer progression across several solid tumor types. The strongest benefits were observed among patients with lung, breast, colon, and liver cancers. In these groups, patients taking GLP-1 drugs were approximately 38% to 50% less likely to develop stage 4 or metastatic disease compared with those receiving alternative diabetes treatments.
The study also found that GLP-1 use was associated with a 33% lower risk of death from any cause. Among all cancer types examined, breast cancer patients appeared to experience the greatest survival benefit. Researchers reported that GLP-1 users with breast cancer had a 45% lower risk of death compared to similar patients taking other diabetes medications.
These findings suggest that the medications may have an impact not only on cancer progression but also on overall survival.
Scientists are still working to understand the mechanisms behind these results. One possibility is that GLP-1 medications help reduce chronic inflammation, which has long been linked to both obesity and cancer development. Inflammation can create an environment that supports tumor growth and spread.
Researchers also point to the drugs’ effects on the immune system. By influencing immune responses, GLP-1 medications may help the body better control cancer progression.
Weight loss itself may also contribute to improved outcomes, since excess body weight is a known risk factor for several types of cancer. However, additional research will be needed to determine exactly how these medications may influence cancer biology.
The study has been presented at ASCO’s annual meeting but has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. Research presented at scientific conferences often undergoes additional review and validation before becoming part of standard medical practice.
Another study found that women who used GLP-1 medications had a significantly lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who did not use the drugs. The study reviewed health data from more than 110,000 women ages 45 to 80 and found that GLP-1 users were about 30% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. The findings were also presented at the 2026 ASCO annual meeting by Dr. Elizabeth McDonald of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and were simultaneously published in JCO Oncology Practice.
Dr. McDonald said:
GLP-1 medications are intriguing from a cancer research perspective because they weren’t designed for cancer therapy, but they do affect many different targets and pathways associated with cancer development, so we’re eager to study them in this context.
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Source: “GLP-1 Meds May Help Slow the Spread of Certain Obesity-Related Cancers,” HealthDay, 5/27/26
Source: “GLP-1s May Reduce Metastatic Progression of Certain Obesity-Related Cancers,” ASCO, 5/21/26
Source: “GLP-1 use linked to lower breast cancer incidence in large cohort study,” PennMedicine.org, 6/2/26
Source: “GLP-1 Agonists Are Associated With a Significant Reduction in Breast Cancer Incidence in Women,” JCO Oncology Practice, 6/2/26
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