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GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Lower Five-Year Death Risk in Colon Cancer, UCSD Study Finds

An observational review of more than 6,800 cases reports the strongest association in severe obesity, prompting calls for randomized trials to confirm any survival effect.

Overview

  • Patients prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists had a five-year mortality of 15.5% versus 37.1% among non-users in UC Health records.
  • The association persisted after adjusting for age, body mass index, cancer severity, and other health conditions.
  • The largest survival advantage appeared in patients with a BMI over 35, suggesting a link to obesity-related metabolic pathways.
  • The analysis included drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and was published November 11 in Cancer Investigation.
  • Researchers caution the study cannot prove causation and propose trials to test whether benefits stem from direct anti-tumor effects or improved metabolic health.