GLP-1 receptor agonists and cancer: current clinical evidence and translational opportunities for preclinical research.

This review examines the relationship between glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists — a class of drugs used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes — and cancer risk. The authors note that obesity and type 2 diabetes are established risk factors for several cancers, and that GLP-1 receptor agonists have become transformative treatments for these conditions. The review synthesizes current clinical evidence across multiple cancer types, including thyroid, pancreatic, gastrointestinal, and hormone-dependent malignancies. The authors report that recent meta-analyses generally do not support an increased cancer incidence with GLP-1 receptor agonist use, and suggest a potential risk-lowering effect in some cancer types. Preclinical studies are also discussed, with findings pointing to possible anticancer mechanisms even in non-obese models, including immune-modulating effects that may reflect direct action on immune cells or stem from improved metabolic function. The review highlights ongoing clinical trials and identifies key gaps in translational research, including questions about treatment timing, duration, concurrent anticancer therapies, and the distinction between cancer risk versus progression models. As a narrative review, it does not generate new primary data, and conclusions depend on the quality of the underlying studies reviewed.

Why this grade: This is a narrative review synthesizing existing clinical and preclinical literature; it does not independently generate primary human or animal data, so evidence grading reflects the review study design rather than any single trial.