S1929 GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Decrease the Colorectal Cancer Rates in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) due to chronic intestinal inflammation. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), primarily used for metabolic conditions, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and modulating immune functions. This study aims to evaluate the association between GLP-1RA use and the risk of CRC in patients with IBD. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX database. Adults with a diagnosis of IBD, including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), were included between 2005 and 2022. Patients with a prior history of colorectal cancer were excluded. Two groups were compared: patients who received GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and those who did not. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to balance age, sex, race, and common medical comorbidities, personal and family hx of cancer history IBD medications and disease activity. The main outcome was new diagnosis of colorectal cancer. We used Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included a total of 19,363 per group patients with IBD, matched 1:1 into GLP-1RA users and non-users. Patients exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists demonstrated a significantly lower risk of developing CRC compared to non-users (38 vs 87 cases; HR 0.39; 95% CI, 0.27–0.57; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed consistent findings across IBD subtypes. In patients with CD (n = 11,755 per group), GLP-1RA users had fewer CRC diagnoses than controls (23 vs 48 cases; HR 0.44; 95% CI, 0.27–0.72; P = 0.001). Similarly, in patients with UC (n = 19,110 per group), those treated with GLP-1RAs had lower CRC incidence than non-users (51 vs 88 cases; HR 0.51; 95% CI, 0.36–0.72; P < 0.001). Conclusion: GLP-1RA use was significantly associated with reduced CRC risk in patients with IBD, including both CD and UC. These findings support a potential protective effect, possibly linked to the anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties of GLP-1RAs. Given the elevated CRC risk in IBD, GLP-1RAs may offer dual benefits in this population—addressing metabolic disease while lowering cancer risk. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm these results and elucidate underlying mechanisms.