Can Ozempic Revolutionize Cancer Treatment?

Research is increasingly suggesting that GLP-1 agonist medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro, may serve as important tools in reducing the risk of various cancers linked to obesity and high levels of body fat.

Dr. Sherry Shen, a breast medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), identifies at least 13 types of cancer linked to obesity. These include prostate, gastric (stomach), colon, endometrial, and post-menopausal breast cancers.

In a paper published in March 2026 in JAMA Network, Dr. Shen and her co-authors stated that overweight and obesity are responsible for approximately 10% of new cancer diagnoses annually in the United States. For certain malignancies, such as hepatobiliary cancer—aggressive tumors found in the gallbladder, bile ducts, or liver—and endometrial cancer, obesity accounts for up to 50% of cases.

Impact on Breast Cancer Patients

Beyond prevention, these medications are being studied for their role in supporting patients already undergoing cancer treatment. Weight gain is a frequent side effect of breast cancer therapy, which can result in poorer cardiovascular health and worse overall outcomes.

A study published in August 2025 found that weight loss drugs helped breast cancer patients lose weight during their treatment process. Dr. Shen noted that these medications look to be promising in potentially reducing the number of people who are diagnosed with these obesity related cancers.

The urgency of this research is underscored by projections that severe obesity will become the dominant weight category in many U.S. States by 2030.

Observational Findings and Clinical Research

Large-scale data suggests a correlation between GLP-1 use and lower cancer incidence. A study involving 1.6 million patients with Type 2 diabetes found that those receiving GLP-1s faced a lower risk for many cancers related to their condition.

Further analysis has highlighted specific protections offered by these drugs compared to other treatments. An analysis in JAMA Network Open suggested that GLP-1s provide significantly more protection against cancer for diabetic patients than insulin treatments do.

Other research indicates that the benefits may extend beyond patients who are overweight. A research letter published in JAMA Oncology in 2023 suggests that GLP-1 drugs might reduce the risk of colon cancer even among individuals who are not overweight.

According to Arif Kamal, an oncologist specializing in breast cancer and chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society, the early promise of these drugs in preventing common cancers—including ovarian, liver, colon, and breast cancers driven by excess weight—is a hopeful story.

Mechanisms and Versatility of GLP-1s

The versatility of GLP-1 agonists is attributed to their complex biological interactions. Deborah Phippard, chief scientific officer at the CRO Precision for Medicine, explains that the G protein-coupled receptor that a GLP-1 agonist binds to is at the top of numerous different pathways, leading to various downstream effects.

This versatility is evidenced by other medical applications. In August 2024, the FDA approved Wegovy for the treatment of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a liver disease. This approval recognized the drug’s ability to target underlying risk factors like weight, although the regulator acknowledged that the exact mechanisms are not fully understood.

These are some of the most complicated drugs I’ve seen in my career because they do so many things

Deborah Phippard, chief scientific officer at Precision for Medicine

Current Limitations and Outlook

While the current data is promising, experts emphasize that research into the relationship between GLP-1 drugs and cancer is still in its relative infancy. Many of the mechanisms by which these drugs may prevent or treat cancer remain unclear.

Current findings largely focus on the drugs’ ability to treat underlying risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes, which are well-documented drivers of cancer risk. Future research will likely focus on whether these medications provide direct oncological benefits beyond weight reduction.