Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42523690›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in oncology2026

Cancer outcomes and biological mechanisms among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ejike Daniel Eze, Leopold Ntakirutimana, Swase Dominic Terkimbi, Muluken Walle, Abdullahi Hussein Umar, Diresibachew Haile Wondimu, Makinde Vincent Olubiyi, Onyinye Cynthia Okeke, Olufunke Onaadepo, Jimoh Abdulazeez and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Ejike Daniel EzeDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Leopold NtakirutimanaDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Swase Dominic TerkimbiDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Science, Victoria University, Kampala, Uganda.
Muluken WalleDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Abdullahi Hussein UmarDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Diresibachew Haile WondimuDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Makinde Vincent OlubiyiDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Onyinye Cynthia OkekeDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Olufunke OnaadepoDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Jimoh AbdulazeezDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
David Chibuike IkwukaDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Elemi John AniDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.
Abdullateef Isiaka AlagbonsiDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: While glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) provide metabolic and cardiovascular benefits in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, uncertainty remains regarding their association with cancer outcomes and the biological mechanisms by which they influence tumor development. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated overall and site-specific cancer outcomes among adults with T2DM using GLP-1RAs. Methodology: The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched on 8 June 2026. Eligible studies included adults with T2DM exposed to GLP-1RAs and reported cancer-related outcomes. Hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled using the Generic Inverse Variance method under a random-effects model. Results: The pooled analysis showed a significant reduction in overall cancer risk among GLP-1RAs users (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74-0.99; p = 0.04). Cancer-specific analyses showed significant reductions in pancreatic, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, hepatocellular, esophageal, and gastric cancers, while no significant associations were observed for thyroid, breast, kidney, or prostate cancers. Mechanistic evidence was limited and mostly indirect, with few studies assessing molecular pathways related to inflammation, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolic regulation. Discussion: Overall, GLP-1RAs were not associated with an increased cancer risk and may be linked to a reduced risk for certain cancer types. However, substantial heterogeneity, limited mechanistic validation, and reliance on observational evidence warrant cautious interpretation.

Indexed as

cancerglucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonistsmeta-analysisprevalencetype 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID42523690
PMCPMC13407199

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.