A type of medication to treat type 2 diabetes that has become very popular because it helps people who are overweight or obese lose weight could also reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to the results of a study conducted by scientists at Case Western University. Reserve (USA), which support the need to carry out clinical trials to determine whether these drugs would be useful in preventing these highly prevalent tumors, and even other types of cancer associated with obesity and diabetes.
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs, are drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes that are usually given by injection and can lower blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and help control weight. They have also been shown to reduce rates of cardiovascular disease and many people are already using them to lose weight. This is the case of Ozempic or Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound or Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
These drugs mimic the hormones GLP-1 and GIP that the intestine secretes after a meal, causing insulin secretion and reducing appetite by slowing the time it takes the stomach to empty and interacting with areas of the brain with GLP-receptors. 1 that indicate satiety. “Our results clearly demonstrate that GLP-1 RAs are significantly more effective than popular antidiabetic drugs, such as metformin or insulin, in preventing the development of colorectal cancer,” said Nathan Berger, Hanna-Payne Professor of Experimental Medicine at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and co-principal investigator of the study.
“To our knowledge,” said Rong Xu, professor at the School of Medicine and co-leader of the work, “this is the first indication that this popular class of antidiabetic and weight-loss drugs reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer, compared to with other antidiabetic agents. Researchers have highlighted that the protective effect of GLP-1 RAs is observed in patients with or without overweight/obesity. The findings have been published in the journal JAMA Oncology.
Obesity and diabetes are risk factors for colorectal cancer
Overweight, obesity or diabetes are risk factors for developing colorectal cancer and worsening its prognosis, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. In Spain, a map on the prevalence of obesity and overweight was recently published, which reveals that 55.8% of people over 18 years of age who resided in our country in 2020 are overweight (18.7% of which suffer from obesity, while 37.1% are overweight. Regarding the prevalence of severe obesity, it stands at 4.9% of adults.
Obesity is also linked to increased risk of heart disease and many other health problems, including type 2 diabetes and cancer. Because GLP-1 RAs had already been shown to be effective antidiabetic and weight loss agents, researchers hypothesized that they might reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer.
In diabetic patients who had been treated with GLP-1 RA, a 44% reduction in the incidence of colorectal cancer was observed.
Researchers used a national database of more than 100 million electronic medical records to conduct a population-based study of more than 1.2 million patients. These people had been treated with antidiabetic agents between 2005 and 2019. The team examined the effects of GLP-1 RAs on their incidence of colorectal cancer, compared to those who had received other antidiabetic medications.
Population research involves matching as many people as possible with the same characteristics (sex, race, age, socioeconomic factors that influence health, and other medical conditions) to accurately compare the effects of drugs. Among 22,572 patients with diabetes treated with insulin, there were 167 cases of colorectal cancer. In another 22,572 compatible patients treated with GLP-1 RA, 94 cases of this type of cancer were diagnosed, while in those who had been treated with GLP-1 RA, a 44% reduction in the incidence of colorectal cancer was observed.
In a similar comparison of 18,518 patients with diabetes treated with metformin, compared with 18,518 patients with diabetes treated with GLP-1 RA, the latter had a 25% reduction in colorectal cancer. “Research is of vital importance to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with diabetes, with or without overweight and obesity,” concludes Berger.
