Khaberni - In a notable scientific development, two recent studies conducted by researchers from the University of Texas in San Antonio showed that common weight loss drugs, specifically GLP-1 receptor agonists like "Ozempic" and "Wegovy," may contribute to reducing the risk of colon and rectal cancer, outperforming aspirin, which has long been considered a standard preventive treatment for this type of cancer.
The findings come at a time when incidence rates of colon and rectal cancer are rising alarmingly, especially among people under fifty, where the disease is often diagnosed in later stages due to the absence of early symptoms, complicating treatment prospects. Meanwhile, the use of GLP-1 agonists in the United States is increasing rapidly, with estimates suggesting that about 12% of adults – around 31 million people – use these drugs primarily for diabetes treatment and weight loss.
During the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) symposium, the research team presented the results of the studies, which revealed additional unexpected benefits of these drugs. In the first study, which involved analyzing data from more than 280,000 individuals at risk for colon and rectal cancer, it was found that those who used GLP-1 drugs were 26% less likely to develop the disease compared to those who used aspirin, with a general decrease in incidence rates for both groups.
The study also indicated that GLP-1 drugs demonstrated a higher safety level, recording lower rates of serious side effects such as kidney damage, stomach ulcers, and gastrointestinal bleeding, complications associated with prolonged use of aspirin, especially with advancing age.
Although the absolute benefit at the individual level seemed limited – requiring treatment of more than two thousand people to prevent one case of colon cancer – the researchers point out that the advantage of these drugs lies in their lower side effects, making them a promising option in the context of prevention.
The second study focused on the impact of these drugs on death rates among patients with colon and rectal cancer. Using anonymous data from over 10,000 patients, researchers compared two identical groups, each consisting of 5170 patients, one of which used GLP-1 agonists while the other did not. The study found that the risk of death from any cause decreased by 53% over ten years among those who used these drugs, a benefit observed regardless of age, weight, or diabetes status, although the study did not find evidence of reduced cancer spread to other organs.
In further confirmation of these results, a previous study conducted by the University of California in San Diego indicated that patients with colon and rectal cancer who used GLP-1 agonists were nearly 50% less likely to die within five years, particularly among those with obesity.
Researchers believe these benefits result from multiple effects of these drugs, including reducing chronic inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering sugar levels, and aiding in weight loss, all of which influence the progression of cancer cells.
While these results are promising in the context of cancer prevention and improving survival chances, along with potential benefits for heart diseases, dementia, and metabolic disorders, the researchers emphasize the importance of being cautious about some side effects, which can be temporary like nausea or rare but more severe such as digestive system issues.
The results of the studies were published during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2026) conference, noting that the research is ongoing to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using GLP-1 agonists in this context over the long term.
