Glucagon-like peptide-1 medicines and cancer

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medicines reduce food intake, body weight, insulin resistance and inflammation, thus improving outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity and potentially contributing to decreased cancer incidence. GLP-1 medicines acting through weight loss-dependent and weight loss-independent mechanisms hold potential for suppression of tumorigenesis and reduction of rates of obesity-associated cancer. In this Perspective, we summarize data on cancer incidence from trials and registries in individuals with type 2 diabetes, describe the actions of GLP-1 medicines on preclinical cancer models and highlight possible direct and indirect mechanisms linking GLP-1R signaling to cancer development and progression. Yabut and Drucker discuss clinical and preclinical evidence about the potential roles of GLP-1 medicines on cancer incidence, development and therapy and speculate about their mechanism on cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.