Diabetes Drug May Reduce Risk for Colorectal Cancer

A groundbreaking study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University suggests a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes may also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC).

The findings, published in the journal JAMA Oncology, support the need for clinical trials to determine whether these medications could prevent one of the deadliest types of cancers.

Eventually, the medications may also show promise in warding off other types of cancer associated with obesity and diabetes.

“Our results clearly demonstrate that GLP-1 RAs are significantly more effective than popular anti-diabetic drugs, such as Metformin or insulin, at preventing the development of CRC,” said Nathan Berger, the Hanna-Payne Professor of Experimental Medicine at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and the study’s co-lead researcher.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs, are medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Usually given by injection, they can lower blood-sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity and help manage weight.

Importantly the protective effect of GLP-1 RAs are noted in patients with or without overweight/obesity.

Being overweight or obese or having diabetes are risk factors for increasing incidence of CRC and for making its prognosis worse.

These conditions are common nationally and are caused by several factors — among them diet, lack of sleep or physical activity, genetics and family history. 

Obesity is a chronic health condition that raises the risk for heart disease — the leading cause of death in the United States — and is linked to many other health problems, including type 2 diabetes and cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates CRC is the third-leading type of cancer in both sexes, with 153,000 new cases per year.

Since GLP-1 RAs have been shown to be effective anti-diabetic and weight-loss agents, the researchers hypothesized they might reduce incidence of CRC.

Using a national database of more than 100 million electronic health records, the researchers conducted a population-based study of more than 1.2 million patients.

These individuals had been treated with anti-diabetic agents from 2005-19; the CWRU team examined the effects of GLP-1 RAs on their incidence of CRC, as compared to those prescribed other anti-diabetic drugs.

Population-based research means matching as many people as possible with the same characteristics — sex, race, age, socio-economic determinants of health and other medical conditions — to accurately compare the drug’s effects.

Among 22,572 patients with diabetes treated with insulin, there were 167 cases of CRC.

Another 22,572 matched patients treated with GLP-1 RAs saw 94 cases of CRC.

Those treated with GLP-1 RAs had a 44% reduction in incidence of CRC.

In a similar comparison of 18,518 patients with diabetes treated with Metformin, compared to 18,518 patients with diabetes treated with GLP-1 RAs, had a 25% reduction in CRC.

Sources:

Lindsey Wang, William Wang, David C. Kaelber, Rong Xu, Nathan A. Berger. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Drug-Naive Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, With and Without Overweight/Obesity. JAMA Oncology, 2023; DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.5573

Case Western Reserve University. (2023, December 7). Diabetes drug may reduce risk for colorectal cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 7, 2023 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231207161338.htm

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