Some pretty exciting research has come about regarding GLP-1 receptor agonists (think drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy).

Researchers studying large populations of women found that GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with a lower incidence of HR+/HER2− breast cancer, improved overall survival, and lower recurrence rates within certain breast cancer populations.

GLP-1 stands for “glucagon-like peptide-1” and is a naturally occurring hormone. GLP-1 RA is the medication form of the hormone. GLP-1 RAs are not insulin.

Of note is that these studies are observational, which means that while they show a connection they don’t prove GLP-1 medications directly caused the better outcomes. Still, it’s an area generating significant interest in oncology research, especially because obesity is a known risk factor for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

More studies are underway to determine whether these benefits come from weight loss, metabolic improvements, direct anti-tumor effects, or a combination.

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