Cancer of the uterine lining, also known as endometrial cancer, is the most common gynecological cancer in the Western world.
Women with precancerous conditions or heavy bleeding are often treated with the hormone progestin.
Hormone therapy helps relieve symptoms, but it does not address underlying metabolic problems, such as elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance, which may increase the risk of cancer.
According to Medical Xpress, researchers have therefore investigated whether medications that affect metabolism could make a difference.
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Large study
The results have been published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
The study is based on data from 444,820 women over the age of 18 with benign uterine conditions. All received progestin therapy.
The researchers used data from the international TriNetX database containing anonymized patient records.
They compared women who received only progestin with those who also received a GLP-1 receptor agonist, metformin, or both.
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Because the study is based on existing data, it cannot prove that the treatment directly prevents cancer. It can only demonstrate an association.
Lower risk
According to the study, women who received both progestin and a GLP-1 receptor agonist had a 66 percent lower risk of developing uterine cancer compared with those who received hormone therapy alone.
Fewer surgeries to remove the uterus were also observed.
After two years, the risk of surgery was 53 percent lower in the combination group. After five years, it was 41 percent lower.
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The researchers emphasize that clinical trials are needed before the treatment can potentially be changed.
Sources: Medical Xpress, and JAMA Network Open.
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