Risk of Malignant Neoplasia with Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are effective glucose-lowering drugs, but there is concern that they may increase the risk of malignant neoplasia. The present meta-analysis examined the safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists with regard to malignant neoplasia.

METHODS:

We analyzed data from randomized controlled trials with a minimum duration of 24 weeks that assessed the incidence of neoplasms in type 2 diabetes patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists compared with placebo or other hypoglycemic drugs. We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases with a language restriction of English through October 1, 2018, and carried out a meta-analysis of the available trial data using a fixed effects model to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for neoplasia.

RESULTS:

Thirty-four relevant articles, providing data for 50452 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with the incidence of malignant neoplasia with placebo or other interventions, no increase in malignant neoplasm formation was observed with the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (OR 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94-1.15; p = 0.46), liraglutide (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.91-1.27; p = 0.38), exenatide (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.86-1.16; p = 1.00), semaglutide (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.35-2.22; p = 0.80), or albiglutide (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.23-4.88; p = 0.93). A subanalysis of trials lasting longer than 3 years also showed no increase in the neoplasia risk with GLP-1 receptor agonist use (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.92-1.15; p = 0.60). Between-trial statistical heterogeneity was low for all comparisons.

CONCLUSION:

GLP-1 receptor agonists can be used without safety concerns related to malignant neoplasia in patients with type 2 diabetes.

• Authors: Yufang Liu, Xiaomei Zhang, Sanbao Chai, Xin Zhao, Linong Ji
• Journal: Journal of diabetes research (J Diabetes Res) Vol. 2019 Pg. 1534365 ( 2019) ISSN: 2314-6753 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31396537 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
• Hypoglycemic Agents
• semaglutide
• rGLP-1 protein
• Glucagon-Like Peptides
• Liraglutide
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
• Exenatide

Topics

• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Exenatide (therapeutic use)
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor (agonists)
• Glucagon-Like Peptides (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hypoglycemic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Incidence
• Liraglutide (therapeutic use)
• Neoplasms (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Risk Factors