Risk of thyroid cancer among GLP1-RA users

A new study found no evidence that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA) use is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer. The study is published in the peer-reviewed journal Thyroid^®, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association^® (ATA^®). Click here to read the article now.

GLP1-Ras are incretin-based glucose-lowering medications that are commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Professor Anton Pottegård, from the University of Southern Denmark, and coauthors, analyzed databased from six countries, comparing patients with type 2 diabetes between 2007 and 2023 for the risk of thyroid cancer among GLP1-RA users compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is). The investigators examined data from 92,497 users of GLP1-RA and 2,484,408 users of DPP-4i.

“In this large multisite study, utilizing data from six population-based databases, we found no evidence that GLP1-RA use is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer with follow-up ranging from 1.8-3.0 years, providing some reassurance to patients and clinicians about the short-term safety of these drugs,” concluded the investigators.

About the Journal
Thyroid^®, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association^®, (ATA^®) is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with open access options and in print. Led by Editor-in-Chief Anna M. Sawka, MD, PhD, University of Toronto, the Journal publishes original articles and timely reviews that reflect the rapidly advancing changes in our understanding of thyroid physiology and pathology, from the molecular biology of the cell to clinical management of thyroid disorders. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Thyroid website. The complete Thyroid Journal Program includes the highly valued abstract and commentary publication Clinical Thyroidology^®, led by Editor-in-Chief Trevor E. Angell, MD and published monthly, and the groundbreaking videojournal companion VideoEndocrinology, led by Editor Catherine F. Sinclair, MD, FRACS. Complete tables of content and sample issues may be viewed on the Thyroid website.

About the American Thyroid Association®
The American Thyroid Association® (ATA) is dedicated to transforming thyroid care through clinical excellence, education, scientific discovery and advocacy in a collaborative and diverse community. ATA® is an international professional medical society with over 1,800 members from 43 countries around the world. The ATA® promotes thyroid awareness and information through Clinical Thyroidology® for the Public, a resource that summarizes research for patients and families, and extensive, authoritative resources on thyroid disease and thyroid cancer in both English and Spanish. The ATA® website www.thyroid.org serves as a bonafide clinical resource for patients and the public who look for reliable thyroid-related information. 

About the Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a global media company dedicated to creating, curating, and delivering impactful peer-reviewed research and authoritative content services to advance the fields of biotechnology and the life sciences, specialized clinical medicine, and public health and policy. For complete information, please visit the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. website.