Improved colon cancer survival rates identified for patients on glp1
New analysis suggests GLP-1 agonists may offer meaningful mortality benefits for people with colon cancer, especially those with higher BMI.
A large retrospective study of nearly 7,000 patients found that people with colon cancer who were taking GLP-1 receptor agonists had less than half the 5-year mortality rate of those not using these obesity drugs.
The benefit appeared strongest in people with BMI over 35, suggesting a possible metabolic link between obesity, inflammation, and cancer outcomes.
Study Details
Researchers reviewed electronic health record data from the University of California Health Data Warehouse, focusing on adults diagnosed with colon cancer before 2019 with at least five years of follow up.
Out of 6,871 eligible patients, only 103 had a history of GLP-1 agonist use. These medications included semaglutide, liraglutide, and related agents commonly prescribed for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The study examined survival patterns, cardiometabolic outcomes, and mortality differences between GLP-1 agonist users and matched non users. The analysis also explored whether BMI modified the survival relationship.
Methodology
The investigators used a retrospective observational design with propensity matching.
Key steps included:
• Identifying colon cancer patients with documented GLP-1 agonist exposure
• Matching each GLP-1 user to comparable non users based on demographics and clinical factors
• Measuring all cause mortality over five years
• Conducting adjusted models that accounted for BMI, comorbidities, tumor marker levels, and cardiovascular risk factors
• Performing BMI stratification to test whether obesity severity influenced the findings
The approach allowed a structured comparison while acknowledging that retrospective studies cannot establish causation.
Key Findings
• Five year mortality was 15.5 percent for GLP-1 users vs 37.1 percent for non users
• After adjustment for all variables the mortality odds ratio was 0.282 suggesting roughly a 62 percent reduction in risk
• The survival benefit was significant only in patients with BMI over 35
• GLP-1 users also had a lower risk of heart attack or stroke in the final 90 days of follow up
• Time to event survival curves did not show statistically significant differences likely due to the small sample size of GLP-1 users
Researchers stressed that the small number of exposed patients is a major limitation and that randomized controlled trials are needed before drawing clinical conclusions.
Implications for Practice
For people living with colon cancer and severe obesity, these findings hint that GLP-1 agonists may contribute to better long term outcomes, possibly through metabolic or inflammatory pathways. The benefits also seem to extend beyond cancer by reducing cardiovascular risks.
For clinicians, the study reinforces the importance of addressing obesity and metabolic health in cancer care.
While GLP-1 drugs are not approved as cancer therapies, they may be appropriate for patients who meet criteria for obesity or diabetes treatment. Any decision to use these medications should complement, not replace, standard oncologic care.