Diabetes Drugs Studied for Possible Effects on Cancer Progression

Recent scientific reviews and studies have explored how medications commonly prescribed for diabetes may also influence cancer development and progression through mechanisms not limited to blood sugar or weight control.

Research published in December 2025 in Precision Clinical Medicine analyzed the effects of metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, and GLP-1 receptor agonists on cancer beyond their primary use in diabetes management. The review considered biological pathways and immune responses that these drugs may affect, highlighting ongoing interest in their broader impact.

Metformin has been studied for its potential to enhance immune activity against cancer, alter the environment around tumors, and influence cellular signaling pathways such as AMPK, mTOR, and PI3K/AKT. Separate studies have also examined SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, finding associations with changes in cancer cell growth, inflammation, and programmed cell death, although these effects can differ depending on the specific drug and cancer type.

Type 2 diabetes itself has been associated with higher risks of certain cancers, including liver, colorectal, and breast cancers. These increased risks are not fully explained by elevated blood sugar or excess body weight, suggesting additional biological factors may be involved.

What the numbers show

• A Swedish study followed 69 prostate cancer patients for 10 years
• Metformin use was linked to reduced risk of basal and squamous cell skin cancers
• UK Biobank data included over 412,000 participants in a study on metformin and leukemia risk

One small study from Sweden observed 69 prostate cancer patients over a decade. According to the findings, only those who received thiazolidinediones, specifically pioglitazone, did not experience a return of biochemical markers indicating cancer recurrence during the study period.

Additional research published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology found that individuals using metformin had lower rates of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are the most common types of non-melanoma skin cancer. Another study using UK Biobank data suggested that metformin users were less likely to have DNMT3A gene changes linked to acute myeloid leukemia, pointing to a possible preventive role.

Despite these findings, the authors of the December 2025 review and other researchers have stated that current evidence is not yet conclusive. They have emphasized the need for further clinical trials to better understand how diabetes medications may affect cancer risk and progression in different populations and cancer types.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.