GLP-1 Use Associated with Better Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer
NYMC Residents Reported Lower Mortality and Fewer Complications Among Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Taking GLP-1 Medications
/filters:quality(70)/prod01/channel_58/media/schools-and-colleges/nymc/images/som-dean-newsletters/ShalinRawalhorizontalgray.png)
Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer using GLP-1 medications had a lower mortality rate compared to those not taking GLP-1s, according to a study by New York Medical College (NYMC) residents that was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in May by Shalin Rawal, M.D., an internal medicine resident in NYMC’s Internal Medicine Residency Program at Saint Mary’s and St. Clare’s Hospital in New Jersey.
“We found that patients using GLP-1 medications had lower mortality rates at one, three, and five years,” says Dr. Rawal. “At five years, about 28 percent of the GLP-1 group had died, compared to 42 percent of those not taking these medications. We also observed fewer cases of pneumonia and heart failure exacerbations among GLP-1 users.”
For their retrospective observational cohort study, the researchers utilized the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network, including electronic health records from 170 healthcare organizations between 2015 and 2025. At one year, mortality was lower in the GLP-1 cohort, 27.5 percent versus 40.6 percent for the non-GLP-1 cohort. This association persisted at three years, 27.5 percent compared to 41.3 percent, and five years, 28.3 percent versus 42 percent, with a higher five-year survival probability of 50.5 percent for the GLP-1 cohort as compared to 41.5 percent for the non-GLP-1 cohort.
“While these results are promising, they need to be interpreted with care,” cautions Dr. Rawal. “Patients should not start taking a GLP-1 medication just because they have colorectal cancer, and they should always talk to their doctor before making any changes to their medications.”
He also cautioned that because this was an observational study, larger independent studies, laboratory and translational research, and ideally, prospective clinical trials are needed to validate the findings and clarify whether there is a true treatment effect.
“While we did not expect to see such a clear difference in death rates over several years, at the same time, these results make sense biologically,” says Dr. Rawal. “Cancer, obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and immune function are all linked. GLP-1 medications may improve metabolism and lower inflammation, which could affect how patients respond to cancer treatment.”
Dr. Rawal emphasized that the findings should not prompt doctors to prescribe GLP-1 medications specifically to treat cancer or replace standard colorectal cancer treatments. However, they may reassure doctors and patients that if someone with metastatic colorectal cancer is already taking a GLP-1 medication for diabetes or obesity, it will probably not interfere with immunotherapy and might even be linked to better outcomes.
“Decisions about starting, continuing, or stopping a GLP-1 medication should be made on an individual basis for each patient. Doctors should think about the patient’s nutrition, weight loss, digestive symptoms, diabetes control, cancer treatment plan, and overall health,” says Dr. Rawal.
“More broadly, this study highlights the importance of examining how commonly used medications may influence cancer outcomes. Treatments originally developed for one condition may have effects across metabolism, inflammation, cardiovascular health, and immune function. Studying these connections may help us better personalize cancer care in the future.”
