A recent study published in Thyroid on January 16, 2025, has found no evidence linking the use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) to an increased risk of thyroid cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes. The research analyzed data from six population-based databases, encompassing 98,147 GLP-1 RA users and approximately 2.49 million users of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is), with a median follow-up period ranging from 1.8 to 3.0 years. The findings indicated that GLP-1 RA use was not associated with a higher incidence of thyroid cancer compared to DPP-4i use, with a pooled weighted hazard ratio of 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.59 to 1.12).
While these results provide reassurance regarding the short-term safety of GLP-1 RAs concerning thyroid cancer risk, the authors note that the evidence is insufficient to rule out potential risks associated with long-term use due to the relatively short follow-up period. Therefore, further research with extended observation is necessary to conclusively determine the long-term safety profile of GLP-1 RAs in this context. Click for More Details
