Hormonal
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are associated with a disproportionate reporting signal for specific neoplasms, particularly medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and pancreatic neoplasms, whereas overall tumor risk is not significantly increased.
GLP-1 receptor agonists do not increase the overall risk of cancer, but they are associated with specific, high-magnitude signals for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and pancreatic neoplasms. Clinicians should maintain vigilance, particularly when combining GLP-1RA with DPP4 inhibitors, which may further increase reporting rates for these specific tumors. The benefits of GLP-1RA for cardiovascular and metabolic health remain significant, but patients with a history of MTC or pancreatitis should be carefully evaluated.
GLP-1RA did not cause a disproportionate increase in all tumor cases (PRR 0.83) at the SOC level, and there was also no increase in most types of tumors associated with GLP-1RA at the HLGT/HLT levels. Significant signals were detected between GLP-1RA and certain tumors, including thyroid cancers [medullary thyroid cancer (PRR 27.43) and papillary thyroid cancer (PRR 8.68)], pancreatic neoplasms malignant (PRR 9.86), and islet cell neoplasms and APUDoma NEC (PRR 2.86).
Why this rating
Real-world pharmacovigilance data (FAERS) identifies signals but cannot prove causality due to spontaneous reporting biases and confounding factors.
Source
GLP-1 receptor agonist-associated tumor adverse events: A real-world study from 2004 to 2021 based on FAERS
Zheng Yang et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2022
DOI 10.3389/fphar.2022.925377
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