Cancer outcomes and biological mechanisms among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using glucagon-like…

Systematic reviewFrontiers in oncology· 2026

Cancer outcomes and biological mechanisms among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ejike Daniel Eze, Leopold Ntakirutimana, Swase Dominic Terkimbi … Abdullateef Isiaka Alagbonsi

OncologySystematic reviewTreatmentQ2IF 3.1

GLP-1 receptor agonist use associated with lower overall cancer risk in type 2 diabetes

Cancer outcomes and biological mechanisms among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ejike Daniel Eze … Abdullateef Isiaka Alagbonsi

Frontiers in oncology · 2026

Background

While glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) provide metabolic and cardiovascular benefits in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, uncertainty remains regarding their association with cancer outcomes and the biological mechanisms by which they influence tumor development.

Methods

The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

Results

GLP-1RA users had lower overall cancer risk than non-users

HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.99)

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

Cancer-specific analyses showed significant reductions in pancreatic, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, hepatocellular, esophageal, and gastric cancers, while no significant associations were observed for thyroid, breast, kidney, or prostate cancers.

More results

DISCUSSION: Overall, GLP-1RAs were not associated with an increased cancer risk and may be linked to a reduced risk for certain cancer types.

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Conclusion

DISCUSSION: Overall, GLP-1RAs were not associated with an increased cancer risk and may be linked to a reduced risk for certain cancer types.

Cancer outcomes and biological mechanisms among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cancer outcomes and biological mechanisms among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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