For someone living with cancer, the possibility of it spreading can weigh heavily on every scan, appointment, and treatment decision.
So when research suggests that medications commonly associated with diabetes and weight loss might influence cancer progression, it deserves a closer look.
At the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, researchers reported an association between GLP-1 medication use and less progression to metastatic disease in several cancers.[1,2]
I see this as an important question at the intersection of metabolic medicine and oncology. Understanding where that research may lead starts with understanding what it actually shows.
Cancer risk and cancer spread are different questions
Research on developing cancer asks whether a medication is associated with fewer new diagnoses. This study asked something different: after cancer has been diagnosed, is GLP-1 use associated with a lower likelihood of it reaching stage IV?
Metastatic cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. Investigating that transition moves the conversation beyond prevention and into what happens after diagnosis.[1]
What did the ASCO study examine?
Mark David Orland, MD, and colleagues at Cleveland Clinic analyzed existing health records using the TriNetX research network. The matched analysis included more than 12,000 patients across seven cancers, initially at stages I–III.[1,2]
Researchers compared patients starting GLP-1 receptor agonists after diagnosis with patients starting DPP-4 inhibitors, another class of diabetes medication. They matched patients on characteristics including metabolic factors and cancer treatments to make the comparison more informative.[1]
This was an observational study. Patients were not randomly assigned to receive the medications.
GLP-1 drugs and metastatic progression: the findings
Four cancer types showed statistically significant associations:
| Cancer type | Lower relative hazard of progression to stage IV |
|---|---|
| Non-small cell lung cancer | 50% |
| Breast cancer | 43% |
| Liver cancer—hepatocellular carcinoma | 38% |
| Colorectal cancer | 31% |
These percentages come from the reported hazard ratios. They describe relative differences over follow-up—not percentage-point reductions or a prediction for an individual patient. Prostate, pancreatic, and kidney cancer results did not reach statistical significance.[1]
The pattern warrants further investigation. It does not establish that these medications prevent metastasis.
Why would metabolic medicine matter in cancer care?
One reason this research interests me is that it asks us to look beyond the tumor alone.
The National Cancer Institute describes several connections between obesity and cancer biology, including chronic inflammation, elevated insulin, and insulin-like growth factor signaling. These processes can influence cell growth and the environment surrounding a tumor.[3]
That makes metabolic health a meaningful area of investigation. It does not mean weight explains every cancer, or that patients are responsible for their diagnosis.
ASCO identified several possible explanations for the GLP-1 findings: changes in inflammation, immune activity, cancer-cell fuel use, or signaling within cancer and supporting cells. Those mechanisms remain questions for future studies.[2]
The opportunity is to investigate how these biological systems interact—and whether changing them can improve outcomes.
A receptor finding that raises another question
In a separate analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas, higher tumor GLP-1 receptor expression was associated with better overall survival.[1]
That finding concerns characteristics of the tumors. It is not evidence that taking a GLP-1 medication produced a survival benefit, nor does it establish a test for selecting treatment.
It offers another reason to explore the biology carefully.
What this study cannot tell us
Matching patients helps reduce differences between groups, but it cannot remove every influence on an observational result. Prescribing decisions, treatment adherence, health care access, and other unmeasured factors could still affect the findings.
The evidence discussed here is a conference abstract published in a Journal of Clinical Oncology meeting supplement, rather than a full clinical-trial report. Randomized prospective trials are needed to test causation.[1,2]
For me, being attentive to emerging science means holding possibility and uncertainty together. We can recognize a finding's importance while asking for stronger evidence.
Should someone with cancer take Ozempic?
This study alone is not a reason to start Ozempic or change cancer treatment. Ozempic's approved indications do not include treating cancer or preventing its spread.[4]
The decision must account for the individual. Someone with diabetes and excess body fat may have different needs from someone struggling with poor appetite, unintended weight loss, or muscle loss. Cancer cachexia—a syndrome involving loss of muscle and fat—can already threaten strength and daily function.[5]
Ozempic also has important risks and restrictions. Its prescribing information includes gastrointestinal adverse effects and a contraindication for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.[4]
If this research raises questions about your care, discuss them with your oncology team and prescribing clinician. The goal is a coordinated plan that considers cancer treatment, metabolic needs, nutrition, and strength.
Explore the conversation further
I want patients to have access to emerging science in a form they can understand and discuss with their care teams.
For more on this topic, Dr. Jason Williams and I explore cancer care and GLP-1 medications in The Longevity Primer: Mini-Book 1—Cancer Care & the Truth About GLP-1/Ozempic.
Explore The Longevity Primer on Amazon here.
References:
Orland MD, Mandala A, Unlu S, et al. Can GLP-1 receptor agonists mitigate cancer progression? A propensity-matched analysis across seven solid tumors. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2026;44(16_suppl):3143. Conference abstract.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. GLP-1s May Reduce Metastatic Progression of Certain Obesity-Related Cancers. May 21, 2026. ASCO research announcement.
National Cancer Institute. Obesity and Cancer.
Novo Nordisk. Ozempic prescribing information, via DailyMed.
National Cancer Institute. Cancer Cachexia.
