Study: Comparison of GLP-1 drugs and aspirin for colorectal cancer prevention

RELEVANCE

Most relevant for: People at high-risk for colorectal cancer.

It may also be relevant for:

• healthy people with average cancer risk
• people with a family history of cancer
• people with a genetic mutation linked to cancer risk
• previvors

Relevance: Medium-High

Strength of Science: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

More rating details

Daily aspirin and cancer risk reduction

Research shows that taking daily aspirin can reduce the risk of colon cancer and possibly other cancers for people at average risk. However, this risk reduction is moderate. In addition, aspirin can increase the risk of serious bleeding, which limits who should take it.

For people at higher risk for colon cancer, such as individuals with Lynch syndrome, research shows that daily aspirin can decrease their risk. For more about this, read our XRAY review here.

What is this study about?

Researchers continue to conduct studies to better understand whether GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Trulicity and others (commonly used for diabetes and weight loss) may also lower cancer risk. This study compared GLP-1 drugs to aspirin to see which more effectively reduced the risk of colorectal cancer in average-risk people who did not have a history of the disease.

What are GLP-1 receptor agonists?

GLP-1 drugs mimic the effects of a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone helps regulate blood sugar, slow the movement of food out of the stomach and reduce appetite.

These medicines can also influence other bodily processes that may play a role in cancer prevention, which is why additional studies are being conducted.

Why is this study important?

This study is the first to compare how effectively GLP-1s prevent colorectal cancer compared to aspirin. Results of this and future studies could offer a promising new way to help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer before it develops.

Study findings

This study analyzed existing data. It did not directly test whether GLP-1s were better than aspirin in reducing colorectal cancer risk.

Researchers divided participants who had not previously been diagnosed with colorectal cancer into two groups. Each group included about 141,000 participants. Group 1 took GLP-1s for at least 3 months. Group 2 took aspirin. Researchers reported the number of colorectal cancer diagnoses after a 6-year period for Group 1 (those who took GLP-1s) and a 5-year period for Group 2 (those who took aspirin).

Colorectal cancer was reported in:

• 183 of 140,758 GLP1 users
• 247 of 140,692 aspirin users

Among all participants, GLP-1 drugs reduced the risk of colorectal cancer by 36% compared to aspirin.

High-risk study participants

High-risk participants were defined as those who had:

• a first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) with colorectal cancer
• a known inherited mutation that increases the risk of colorectal cancer
• diseases or conditions known to increase the risk of colorectal cancer, such as colitis and Crohn’s disease

Among all high-risk participants, GLP-1 drugs reduced the risk of colorectal cancer by 42% compared to aspirin.

Participants taking GLP-1 drugs had a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to those taking aspirin. This suggests that GLP-1 drugs may be more effective than aspirin for the primary prevention of colorectal cancer. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to understand the safety and long-term effects of using these medicines for cancer prevention.

Reported side effects

Both groups of participants experienced side effects that are commonly associated with aspirin and GLP-1. The most common effects were nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

What does this mean for me?

GLP-1 drugs may offer a better option than aspirin for people hoping to prevent colorectal cancer.

This study focused on understanding whether GLP-1 drugs might lower colorectal cancer risk more effectively than aspirin in people who had never had the disease.  By comparing one group of study participants who took GLP-1 drugs to a second group of study participants who took aspirin, researchers found that the people taking GLP-1 drugs were less likely to develop colorectal cancer than those taking aspirin over 5-6 years. While these results do not prove that GLP-1 drugs prevent colorectal cancer, they do help clarify whether GLP-1 drugs could be a future option for lowering colorectal cancer risk.

Although GLP-1 drugs are not currently recommended for cancer prevention, if future studies confirm their safety and effectiveness, individuals may have more options to discuss with their doctors when considering ways to protect themselves against colorectal cancer. Results from this study are promising, but more research is needed to ensure GLP-1 drugs are safe and effective to use for long-term colorectal cancer prevention.

Reference

Jones, CF. GLP-1 receptor agonist vs aspirin for primary prevention of colorectal cancer:  Evidence from a real-world head-to-head comparison. 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, San Francisco, CA. Abstract 18. Presented Jan 10, 2026.

Disclosure: FORCE receives funding from industry sponsors, including companies that manufacture cancer drugs, tests and devices. All XRAYS articles are written independently of any sponsor and are reviewed by members of our Scientific Advisory Board prior to publication to ensure scientific integrity.

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posted 6/26/2026