Hormonal
Current randomized controlled trial evidence does not demonstrate a statistically significant increase in thyroid cancer risk with the use of incretin-based therapies (GLP-1RAs and dual GIP/GLP-1RAs).
Current high-quality randomized trial data does not support a claim that GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 drugs cause thyroid cancer in the general population. However, the evidence is very low certainty because these trials are too short and too small to rule out a rare, long-term risk. Clinicians should continue prescribing these drugs for their proven benefits while adhering to the FDA boxed warning for patients with a specific family history of medullary thyroid cancer.
RCT evidence does not demonstrate a statistically significant increase in thyroid cancer risk with incretin-based therapies.
Why this rating
The paper rates the certainty of evidence as 'Very Low' due to imprecision (few events) and risk of bias (non-adjudicated outcomes).
Source
Incretin-Based Therapy and Thyroid Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Naseem Eisa et al. · AACE Endocrinology and Diabetes · 2026
DOI 10.1016/j.aed.2026.03.003
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →