A retrospective analysis presented at the 2026 ASCO Breakthrough Meeting found that GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a lower five-year incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including those with coexisting type 2 diabetes. Led by Sarina Ailawadi, DO, of Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, the study used the TriNetX US healthcare database and propensity score matching to compare patients receiving GLP-1 therapies with matched nonusers.
In the matched IBD cohort, five-year CRC incidence was 0.20% among GLP-1 users versus 0.43% among nonusers, corresponding to 51% lower odds. Among patients with both IBD and type 2 diabetes, incidence was 0.31% versus 0.57%, corresponding to 46% lower odds.
Potential explanations include GLP-1 therapies’ effects on weight, insulin signaling and systemic inflammation, but the study did not establish a mechanism or prove a protective effect. The researchers also plan to investigate tolerability in IBD, given that adverse effects such as abdominal discomfort, nausea and constipation can overlap with disease symptoms. ASCO Chief Medical Officer Julie R. Gralow emphasized that the findings remain preliminary and require prospective studies and randomized trials before informing cancer-prevention recommendations.