GLP-1s and Cancer: Emerging Research and Implications for Dentists

By Ayesha Khan, MBA

The rapid rise of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), including semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, and related medications, has transformed the treatment landscape for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recent estimates suggest that about 1 in 8 U.S. adults is now taking a GLP-1 medication. Initially developed for glycemic control, these medications have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in weight management and cardiometabolic health. Now, a growing body of research suggests that GLP-1 therapies may also influence cancer risk, progression, and overall outcomes.

For dental professionals, this emerging evidence is more than a medical curiosity. As oral healthcare providers increasingly encounter patients taking GLP-1 medications, understanding their broader systemic implications can help inform risk assessment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and comprehensive patient care.

The Growing Interest in GLP-1s and Cancer

Obesity is recognized as a major risk factor for at least 13 types of cancer, including colorectal, breast, endometrial, liver, pancreatic, and kidney cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 40% of U.S. adults are living with obesity, placing millions at heightened risk for obesity-related malignancies. This association is driven by complex biological mechanisms, including chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, hormonal dysregulation, and immune system alterations that can contribute to tumor development and progression. Given these well-established links, researchers have long explored whether effective weight-management therapies could also help reduce cancer risk.

Recent studies suggest the answer may be yes.

A large retrospective cohort study published in JAMA Oncology evaluated more than 86,000 adults with obesity and found that individuals taking GLP-1 receptor agonists experienced a 17% lower overall risk of developing 13 out of 14 obesity-associated cancers compared with non-users, including a:

• 25% reduction in endometrial cancer.
• 47% reduction in ovarian cancer.
• 31% reduction in meningioma.

New Evidence on Cancer Progression and Survival

Perhaps the most intriguing findings have emerged from recent oncology research presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic examined more than 10,000 patients with stage I–III obesity-related cancers who initiated GLP-1 therapy after diagnosis. Compared with matched patients receiving alternative diabetes medications, GLP-1 users demonstrated significantly lower rates of progression to metastatic disease in several cancer types.

Among the most notable findings, approximately:

• 50% lower progression rates in non-small cell lung cancer.
• 43% lower progression rates in breast cancer.
• 38% lower progression rates in liver cancer.
• 31% lower progression rates in colorectal cancer.

The study also identified a roughly one-third reduction in overall mortality risk among GLP-1 users, representing some of the strongest signals to date that GLP-1 therapies may influence cancer biology.

Additional studies presented at ASCO reported that women using GLP-1 medications were up to 35% less likely to develop breast cancer, while other analyses demonstrated lower rates of metastatic disease across multiple tumor types.

Why Might GLP-1 Drugs Affect Cancer?

Researchers believe several mechanisms may contribute to these observations.

• Reduced Chronic Inflammation: GLP-1 therapies help lower systemic inflammation, a key contributor to obesity-related cancer development and progression.
• Improved Metabolic Regulation: By enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing excess insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) activity, GLP-1 medications may limit cancer-promoting metabolic pathways.
• Potential Direct Anticancer Effects: Emerging research suggests GLP-1 receptor signaling may influence tumor growth, immune surveillance, metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment.

What Does This Mean for Dental Professionals?

While dentists are not prescribing GLP-1 medications for cancer prevention, these findings have important implications for oral healthcare teams.

Understanding the Whole Patient

Patients using GLP-1 therapies often have obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic inflammatory conditions, reinforcing the importance of a whole-patient approach to care.

Recognizing Broader Health Connections

Because periodontal disease and many chronic diseases share inflammatory pathways, improvements in metabolic health may have positive implications for oral health.

Preparing for Increased Use

With millions of patients taking GLP-1 medications, including semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide, dental teams will encounter these therapies more frequently in practice.

Supporting Interdisciplinary Care

As GLP-1 therapies demonstrate broader systemic benefits, collaboration between dental professionals and physicians, endocrinologists, and oncologists becomes increasingly important.

Monitoring Oral Side Effects

Although much attention focuses on weight loss and cancer outcomes, dental professionals remain uniquely positioned to identify oral manifestations associated with GLP-1 use, such as:

• Xerostomia (dry mouth).
• Increased caries risk secondary to reduced salivary flow.
• Taste alterations.
• Nutritional deficiencies associated with rapid weight loss.
• Gastroesophageal reflux-related enamel erosion resulting from nausea or vomiting.

As GLP-1 utilization continues to expand, routine screening for these complications should become part of comprehensive dental assessments.

Caring for Cancer Survivors

If ongoing research confirms improved cancer outcomes associated with GLP-1 use, dental teams may play a growing role in managing the long-term oral health needs of cancer survivors receiving these therapies.

Looking Ahead

The conversation surrounding GLP-1 receptor agonists has expanded well beyond weight management. Emerging research suggests these medications may influence cancer risk, disease progression, and survival outcomes in ways that were largely unforeseen just a few years ago.

As dentistry continues to embrace a more integrated, whole-health approach to patient care, understanding the broader impact of GLP-1 therapies, from metabolic health and systemic inflammation to cancer prevention and oral health implications, will become increasingly important. Dental professionals who stay informed about these developments will be better equipped to deliver comprehensive care, collaborate across healthcare disciplines, and contribute to their patients' overall health and well-being.

Author: Ayesha Khan, MBA, is a former research fellow and enthusiastic blogger. With a wide range of articles published in renowned newspapers and scientific journals, she covers topics such as nutrition, wellness, supplements, medical research, and alternative medicine. Currently serving as the Vice President of Social Communications and Strategy at Renaissance, Ayesha brings her expertise and strategic mindset to drive impactful initiatives.

References

1. Pati, S., Irfan, W., Jameel, A., Ahmed, S., & Shahid, R. K. (2023). Obesity and cancer: a current overview of epidemiology, pathogenesis, outcomes, and management. Cancers, 15(2), 485.
2. Dai, H., Li, Y., Lee, Y. A., Lu, Y., George, T. J., Donahoo, W. T., ... & Bian, J. (2025). GLP-1 receptor agonists and cancer risk in adults with obesity. JAMA Oncology, 11(10), 1186-1193.
3. Levy, S., Attia, A., Elshazli, R. M., Abdelmaksoud, A., Tatum, D., Aiash, H., & Toraih, E. A. (2024). Differential effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on cancer risk in obesity: a nationwide analysis of 1.1 million patients. Cancers, 17(1), 78.
4. Hsu, A. C., Ramirez, P. T., Chang, Y. H., Chiang, Y. C., Santía, M. C., Meschini, T., ... & Kamat, A. A. (2026). GLP-1 receptor agonist use and cancer risk in obese nondiabetic adults. Annals of Oncology.
5. Orland, M. D., Mandala, A., Unlu, S., de Almeida Sartori, F., Rajaram Siva, N., Cheema, A. Y., ... & Maciejewski, J. P. (2026). Can GLP-1 receptor agonists mitigate cancer progression? A propensity-matched analysis across seven solid tumors.
6. McDonald, E. S., Gillis, L. B., Gabriel, P., Xapakdy, K., Young, A., Doucette, A., ... & Pisano, E. D. (2026). GLP-1 Agonists Are Associated With a Significant Reduction in Breast Cancer Incidence in Women. JCO Oncology Practice, 10-1200.
7. Achara, K. E., Iyayi, I. R., Erinne, O. C., Odutola, O. D., Ogbebor, U. P., Utulor, S. N., ... & Iyayi, I. (2024). Trends and patterns in obesity-related deaths in the U.S. (2010–2020): a comprehensive analysis using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research (CDC WONDER) data. Cureus, 16(9).
8. Harris, E. (2024). Poll: roughly 12% of U.S. adults have used a GLP-1 drug, even if unaffordable.