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Cited by 26Diabetes Treatment and ManagementMetabolism, Diabetes, and CancerDiabetes Management and Research

Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Does Not Increase the Risk of Cancer in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

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Kim, Mijin, Kim, Seung Chan, Kim, Jinmi, Kim, Bo Hyun·2025·Diabetes & Metabolism Journal
DOI 10.4093/dmj.2024.0105PMC PMC11788542
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Abstract

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) given their extra-pancreatic effects. However, there are concerns about carcinogenesis in the pancreas and thyroid gland. We aimed to evaluate the site-specific incidence of cancer in patients with T2DM-treated GLP-1 RAs using a nationwide cohort.Methods: This study included data obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (between 2004 and 2021). The primary outcome was newly diagnosed cancer, and the median follow-up duration for all participants was 8 years.Results: After propensity score matching, 7,827 participants were analyzed; 2,609 individuals each were included in the GLP-1 RA, diabetes mellitus (DM) control, and non-DM control groups. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of subsequent cancer in patients with T2DM was 1.73, which was higher than that of individuals without DM, and it increased in both men and women. Analysis of patients with T2DM showed no increased cancer risk associated with the use of GLP-1 RA, and similar results were observed in both men and women. The IRRs of pancreatic cancer (0.74), thyroid cancer (1.32), and medullary thyroid cancer (0.34) did not significantly increase in the GLP-1 RA group compared with those in the DM control group.Conclusion: There was a 73% higher risk of cancer in patients with T2DM compared with the general population. However, among patients with T2DM, there was no association between the use of GLP-1 RAs and new-onset cancers, including pancreatic and medullary thyroid cancers.

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  • A comprehensive cohort study utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2004 to 2021 indicated no significant correlation between GLP-1 RAs and the incidence of new-onset malignancies, with a median follow-up of 8 years.

    “Recently, a comprehensive cohort study utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2004 to 2021 indicated no significant correlation between GLP-1 RAs and the incidence of new-onset malignancies, with a median follow-up of 8 years [109].”

    From Exploring the Side Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist: To Ensure Its Optimal Positioning (2025) · cites this paper as [109]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Kim, M., Kim, S. C., Kim, J., & Kim, B. H.
Affiliations
Pusan National University Hospital (KR)
Corresponding author
Kim, Bo Hyun
ORCID
Venue
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal
Publisher
Korean Diabetes Association
Published
2025-01-01
Volume
49
Issue
1
Pages
49-59
ISSN
  • 2233-6079 (ISSN-L)
  • 2233-6087
DOI
10.4093/dmj.2024.0105
PMC
PMC11788542
OpenAlex
W4403670105
Cited by
26
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 13
FWCI
8.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Diabetes & Metabolism Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Pusan National University Hospital (20220025)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
Keywords
GLP-1 receptor agonists, type 2 diabetes, cancer risk, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid carcinoma, drug safety, cancer incidence
MeSH terms
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists, Adult, Aged, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Risk Factors, Thyroid Neoplasms, Incidence, Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine, Republic of Korea

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