Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Thyroid Cancer: An International Multisite Cohort Study.
Baxter Sarah M, Lund Lars Christian, Andersen Jacob H, Brix Thomas H, Hegedüs Laszlo, Hsieh Miyuki Hsing-Chun, Su Chris Tzu-Ting, Cheng Michael Chun-Yuan, Chang Zoe Chi-Jui, Lai Edward Chia-Cheng, Hussain Swaleh, Chu Cherry, Gomes Tara, Antoniou Tony, Eskander Antoine, Bouck Zachary, Tadrous Mina, Bea Sungho, Choi Eun-Young, Shin Ju-Young, Modig Karin, Talbäck Mats, Ljung Rickard, Gulseth Hanne Løvdal, Karlstad Øystein, Hicks Blánaid, Pottegård Anton
Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association · 2025 · PMID 39772758 · 인용 78
Introduction: Concerns have been raised that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, but evidence remains conflicting. We therefore investigated if GLP1-RA use, compared with use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is), was associated with thyroid cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: This multisite cohort study with subsequent meta-analysis included six population-based databases from Canada (Ontario), Denmark, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan. Study populations comprised patients with type 2 diabetes between 2007 and 2023. Cox regression models estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for thyroid cancer among GLP1-RA users compared with DPP-4is. Models were weighted using standardized mortality ratio weights generated from time-specific propensity scores. Site-specific HRs were pooled using a fixed-effects model.
Results: We identified 98,147 users of GLP1-RA and 2,488,303 users of DPP-4i, with the median follow-up among users of GLP1-RA ranging from 1.8 to 3.0 years. Overall, use of GLP1-RA relative to use of DPP-4i was not associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer (pooled weighted HR 0.81, CI 0.59-1.12). Similarly, we observed no increased risk in thyroid cancer with increasing cumulative dose of GLP1-RA among GLP1-RA ever-users. Subgroup analysis of types of thyroid cancer was not possible. Results remained consistent across a range of supplementary analyses.
Discussion: In this large multisite study, utilizing data from six population-based databases, we found no evidence that GLP1-RA use is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer with follow-up ranging from 1.8 to 3.0 years, providing some reassurance to patients and clinicians about the short-term safety of these drugs. Nevertheless, evidence was insufficient to rule out excess risk with long-term use, due to the short follow-up.