Weight-loss jabs may fight cancer

Weight-loss vaccines could soon become cancer fighters, as studies suggest blockbuster injections could help prevent and treat the disease.

At the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, researchers announced a series of promising findings linking trendy drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro to reduced cancer risk and better survival.

While shedding excess weight is known to improve health, experts believe GLP-1 drugs may also fight cancer through other mechanisms, such as reducing inflammation and regulating hormones.

The drugs have already been linked to benefits for heart disease, menopausal symptoms, brain fog, and addictions.

Cancer now emerges as another potential target.

A study by the University of Pennsylvania found that women taking GLP-1 drugs had a 30 percent lower risk of breast cancer.

Study author Dr. Elizabeth McDonald said: “Our study adds to the growing body of evidence that these weight-loss drugs are worth investigating as potential cancer prevention tools.”

Another study by Italy’s Dino Amadori Romagna Tumor Research Institute found that breast cancer patients who used injections in addition to treatment were 30 percent less likely to die within 18 months.

Meanwhile, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio found that patients with breast, bowel, liver or lung cancer who used the shot were up to 50 percent less likely to progress to incurable stage four disease.

Other reports have suggested that users may also be less likely to develop pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and leukemia.

At least two clinical trials are currently testing the injections directly in cancer patients.

Dr., a breast cancer specialist and doctor in New Jersey. Eleonora Teplinsky said: “I think there is enough data to show a clear effect on cancer risk or risk of recurrence, but we haven’t fully defined this yet.

“We need to do more studies by putting patients in them and seeing what happens.

“There are also signals that they may help relieve side effects.

“My patients who use GLP-1 generally feel better, and this helps reduce many side effects caused by hormone blockers.

“Interest in this field is growing exponentially. It’s a very hot topic right now, and I hope we can capitalize on it.”

Dr Michela Palleschi, author of the Italian study, added: “Our results suggest that GLP-1s may enhance survival gains by addressing resistance factors such as fat mass, estrogen and inflammation.”