Diabetes, especially Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM), is linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including liver, colorectal, and breast cancer. While controlling blood sugar and maintaining a healthy weight are central to diabetes care, these factors alone may not fully explain the increased cancer risk. Researchers are now exploring how anti-diabetic medications themselves might influence cancer development and progression.
A new review published on December 10, 2025, in Precision Clinical Medicine (DOI: 10.1093/pcmedi/pbaf028) examines how commonly used diabetes medications—such as metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, and GLP-1 receptor agonists—may affect cancer beyond their blood sugar-lowering effects. Conducted by experts at Peking University People’s Hospital, the study highlights the complex ways these drugs may alter cancer progression through biological pathways that influence cell growth, inflammation, and tumor survival.
Metformin, one of the most widely prescribed diabetes drugs, appears to impact cancer by enhancing the body’s anti-cancer immunity and disrupting the tumor microenvironment. It also interacts with key pathways like AMPK, mTOR, and PI3K/AKT, which regulate cell growth, survival, and blood vessel formation. Other drugs, including SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, may reduce inflammation, slow cancer cell growth, and trigger cancer cell death. However, the effects vary depending on the type of cancer and the specific medication. For instance, metformin shows potential in lowering the risk of colorectal and liver cancers, but its role in breast cancer remains unclear.
Dr. Linong Ji, a lead researcher, said, “While anti-diabetic medications are essential for managing diabetes, their wider effects on cancer are not fully understood. Our review highlights the mechanisms by which these drugs may influence cancer, but evidence is still mixed. More studies are needed to understand long-term impacts and the potential for targeted therapies.”
The findings emphasize the need for personalized medicine when treating diabetic patients at risk for cancer. Understanding how diabetes medications affect cancer progression could help doctors tailor treatments, improve outcomes, and even guide public health strategies for cancer prevention in high-risk populations. The research also sets the stage for future clinical trials to explore how existing medications could be optimized for cancer therapy or combined with standard treatments.
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