GLP-1 Use Linked to Lower Colon Cancer Risk vs Aspirin

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Source: MedPage Today

Original: https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/ascogi/119302...

Published: Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:31:19 -0500

A retrospective study showed that patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) to control diabetes had a significantly lower risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to those taking aspirin.[1] The probability of developing colon cancer was 44% lower in patients on GLP-1 RA during the study period.[1] The study was conducted in San Francisco and analyzed patients with a history of such treatment.[1] GLP-1 agonists, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or tirzepatid, were originally intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.[3] These drugs reduce the risk of several obesity-related cancers, including colon cancer, by up to 50%.[3] The reduction in risk was directly proportional to weight loss.[3] The studies followed hundreds of thousands of patients over a long period of time and were published in The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine.[3]