GLP-1 drugs were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but today they are also widely used for weight loss because of their effects on appetite and blood sugar levels.
Researchers are now taking a closer look at whether these medications may also affect cancer.
One reason for this interest is that obesity can increase the risk of breast cancer, particularly after menopause, according to The Guardian.
Questions remain
At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) cancer conference in Chicago, researchers presented three studies examining the relationship between GLP-1 drugs and cancer.
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The researchers stressed that the findings do not prove that the medications directly protect against cancer.
It remains unclear whether the observed effects are due to weight loss, reduced inflammation in the body, or other factors.
New findings
The first study included 110,000 women. It found that women taking GLP-1 medications had a 30% lower risk of developing breast cancer compared with women who were not taking the drugs.
A second study involving 27,000 breast cancer patients found a 30% lower risk of dying from the disease when the medication was used alongside standard treatment.
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A third study involving 12,000 patients showed that people with breast, lung, colorectal, or liver cancer had a 38% to 50% lower risk of their disease progressing to stage four.
Sources: The Guardian and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
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