Can GLP-1s Help Reduce the Risk of Cancer?

From celebrity weight loss stories to concerns about side effects, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have been all over the news. GLP-1 medicines are FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Researchers are also studying whether they may lower the risk of certain serious illnesses, including some cancers.

“GLP-1s may have benefits far beyond the waistline,” said Joel Saltzman, MD, a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and a gastrointestinal cancer specialist at the Cleveland Clinic.

New research presented at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium shows a reduced risk of colorectal cancer among GLP-1 users. While the evidence is strongest for colorectal cancer, “It’ll be interesting to see if this is a ‘pan-cancer’ effect, meaning these drugs could reduce the risk of other obesity-related cancers,” said Dr. Saltzman.

However, GLP-1 drugs are not approved for cancer prevention. They are not meant to be used only for the purpose of helping reduce cancer risk.

What are GLP-1s?

The body releases a natural hormone called GLP-1 when you eat. GLP-1 drugs are medicines that work by acting like this natural hormone that slows digestion, controls blood sugar, and tells the brain you’re full. By mimicking the hormone, GLP-1s can help manage insulin levels and slow the emptying of the stomach. This helps control appetite and cravings and makes you feel full for longer.

How can GLP-1s help prevent cancer?

Excess body weight is a known risk factor for at least 13 types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. So, it may seem like these drugs should help lower cancer risk simply through weight loss. But the science suggests something more complicated is happening.

A study published in 2025 found that people taking GLP-1s had a lower cancer risk than those who had weight-loss surgery. This was true even though the surgery patients lost more weight. The results suggest that these drugs may have protective effects against cancer, but more research is needed.

Researchers have also learned that GLP-1s might make it harder for cancer to grow in the body. They think these drugs may help prevent cancer in a few different ways.

• Starving cancer cells: All cells, including cancer cells, use sugar and insulin to grow. High levels of these substances in the blood can make it easier for cancer cells to multiply. GLP-1s help lower these levels and may prevent cancer cell growth.
• Reducing inflammation: Inflammation is a type of long-term swelling in the body. “We know chronic inflammation is a risk factor for the development of cancer, and GLP-1s have anti-inflammatory effects,” said Dr. Saltzman.
• Improving cancer detection: These drugs may help the body’s immune cells become better at finding and destroying cancer cells before a tumor or cancer can develop.

Which cancers might GLP-1s help prevent?

Early study findings suggest possible benefits for reducing cancer risk in some obesity-related cancers. These include cancers of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, esophagus, ovaries, and uterus (endometrium).

Should people take GLP-1s to prevent cancer?

It’s important to know that GLP-1s should not be taken only to lower the risk of cancer. They have not yet been approved for this purpose. “[Study results] highlight a potential added benefit of GLP-1s that should be explored further in clinical trials,” said Colton Jones, MD, lead author of the recently presented study about GLP-1s and colorectal cancer. Dr. Jones is a Hematology-Oncology Fellow at The University of Texas San Antonio.

In addition to the possibly high cost of these medications, some concerns about using GLP-1s to reduce cancer risk include:

• What’s known about possibly lowering cancer risk is based on early research. For many of the cancers being studied, the promising data on GLP-1s comes from lab studies on cells and animals. More research on people is needed. Lab and animal study outcomes don’t necessarily translate to humans. While the early data from people is encouraging, large-scale studies are still necessary to confirm a link.
• Studies examining possible increased cancer risk are needed. Some early findings suggest a possible link between GLP-1s and the development of certain cancers, including thyroid cancer. But more research is still necessary.
• Long-term data isn’t available yet. Along with studying the effects of GLP-1s on cancer risk, research is needed to find out how long any of those effects might last. Researchers also don’t know what happens over time when someone stops taking the medicine. Scientists have to study the effects of GLP-1s for many years to be able to answer these questions.
• The side effects can be serious. Many people experience mild nausea, constipation, or diarrhea from taking GLP-1s. But serious issues like gallstones, stomach paralysis (gastroparesis), and bowel obstruction from severe constipation are also possible. Muscle loss is also a concern with long-term use. Adopting a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity are important to help manage muscle loss and other side effects. However, long-term studies are still needed over many years. Further research will help doctors predict which users might be at greater risk for serious side effects.

Dr. Saltzman sees these medicines as a step toward future methods of stopping cancer before it starts. “We can use these drugs to discover new ways to help prevent cancer. By understanding how they work, we can learn from them. This may lead to another drug or another intervention that will help with cancer prevention,” he said.

In the meantime, known ways to help reduce cancer risk include:

• Getting to and staying at a healthy weight
• Eating a healthy diet
• Getting regular physical activity

Be sure to get regular health checkups as well. Talk with your doctor about when to get recommended cancer screening tests, such as colonoscopies, mammograms, prostate exams, and cervical exams.

Learn more about cancer risk and prevention from the American Cancer Society:

• Body Weight and Cancer Risk Infographic (PDF)
• American Cancer Society Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention
• ACS CancerRisk360 Assessment Tool

Dr. Saltzman is a member of ASCO’s Cancer Communications Committee.