Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are established risk factors for multiple malignancies, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are widely used to manage both conditions. A large meta-analysis published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice evaluated whether GLP-1RA therapy is associated with obesity-related cancer risk.

A comprehensive literature search was performed in Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to November 20, 2025. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials enrolling adults aged 18 years or older with T2DM and/or obesity were included if they reported cancer risk following GLP-1RA or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist use. Obesity-related cancers comprised uterine, esophageal, thyroid, gastric, colorectal, liver, gallbladder, pancreatic, breast, ovarian, kidney cancers, cholangiocarcinoma, meningioma, and multiple myeloma.

Across 24 studies involving 3,960,974 individuals, GLP-1RA use was associated with a lower overall risk of obesity-related cancers within ten years (RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.54-0.89). Reduced risks were observed for hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, gallbladder cancer, ovarian cancer, and multiple myeloma. No significant association was observed for thyroid cancer.

These findings indicate that GLP-1RA use is associated with a lower risk of several obesity-related cancers in adults with T2DM and/or obesity. Because the analysis included observational studies, prospective investigations are required to validate these associations.