Popular GLP-1 medications, widely used for diabetes and weight loss, may also help improve long-term outcomes for certain breast cancer patients, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers found that breast cancer survivors using GLP-1 drugs had a lower overall risk of death and a reduced chance of cancer recurrence over a 10-year follow-up period, raising fresh interest in the broader health benefits of the medications.

The study analyzed health records from nearly 8,000 patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 2006 and 2023. Scientists compared patients with obesity who used GLP-1 medications before and after diagnosis with nonusers. They also examined outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes using GLP-1 drugs versus those taking other treatments such as insulin or metformin.

The findings suggest that GLP-1 use may offer meaningful protective effects for some women living with breast cancer, particularly those also managing obesity or diabetes — conditions previously linked to poorer survival outcomes among cancer survivors.

“This study suggests that GLP-1 drugs may offer protective benefits, potentially improving survival and recurrence risk in some female patients with breast cancer,” said Bernard Fuemmeler, senior author of the study and director for population sciences at the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in Richmond, Virginia.

While the results are promising, researchers cautioned that the exact reasons behind the improved outcomes remain unclear. Scientists say the benefits could be connected to weight management, improved cardiovascular health, reduced inflammation, or other biological mechanisms associated with GLP-1 medications.

Experts also emphasized that more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions about the drugs’ role in cancer care.

To better understand the connection, the research team plans to continue investigating the issue through randomized clinical trials, which could help determine whether GLP-1 therapies may eventually become part of broader treatment strategies for breast cancer survivors.