New research suggests there is a positive association between GLP-1 agonists and better outcomes among breast cancer patients.
“This study suggests that GLP-1 drugs may offer protective benefits potentially improving survival and recurrence risk in some female patients with breast cancer—whether this is related to weight control, improve cardiovascular health or other mechanisms remains to be studied,” said study senior author Bernard Fuemmeler, associate director for population sciences and the Chair in Cancer Research at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study examined electronic health records of more than 840,000 breast cancer patients who were diagnosed between 2006 and 2023.
The findings show GLP-1 RA use was associated with an overall lower risk of death from any cause over a 10-year follow-up period among breast cancer patients. Additionally, breast cancer survivors who used GLP1-RAs for diabetes or obesity had a significantly lower risk of their cancer returning over 10 years following their initial treatment.
Further studies are needed to understand the biological mechanisms, if any, between GLP-1 RAs and breast cancer outcomes. The research team intends to further evaluate these correlations through randomized clinical trials.
“Our study underscores the potential of GLP-1 RAs as an adjunct strategy for improving cancer-related outcomes among patients with breast cancer, although clinical trials are needed to inform effective therapeutic approaches and clinical decision making,” Fuemmeler said.
Since 2020, the use of GLP-1s has increased dramatically. An August 2025 study from RAND showed approximately 12% of Americans have used GLP-1s for weight loss.
Data from Virginia Commonwealth University