Potential preventive properties of GLP‑1 receptor agonists against prostate cancer: a nationwide cohort study – published online 03/08/2023

Charlotte Skriver, Søren Friis, Lotte B. Knudsen, Andrei‑Mircea Catarig, Alice J. Clark, Christian Dehlendorff, Lina S. Mørch

Findings from preclinical and epidemiological studies have suggested that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may protect against prostate cancer, but the evidence is inconclusive. In this issue, Skriver et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-023-05972-x) report findings from a large population-based study employing data from Danish nationwide prescription, cancer, health and administrative registries. Using these data, the authors examined the risk of prostate cancer in a large sample of men aged ≥50 years with diabetes who commenced use of GLP-1RAs or basal insulin during 2007–2019. They show that men treated with GLP-1RAs had a lower incidence of prostate cancer compared with men treated with basal insulin. This association was observed particularly among older men (≥70 years) and men with cardiovascular disease. The authors conclude that their results may indicate that GLP-1RA use could have protective properties against prostate cancer but that further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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