Exposure to GLP-1RA and Risk of Structural Progression in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) benefit patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity. While contraindicated in medullary thyroid cancer, their effect in well-differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains poorly understood.

To determine the impact of GLP-1RAs on the risk of DTC recurrence/progression.

Retrospective observational cohort study at a tertiary care center in New York.

Five hundred thirty-six patients with DTC exposed to GLP-1RA were matched 1:1 to 536 patients with DTC never exposed to GLP-1RA by age, date of DTC diagnosis, TNM stage, body mass index (BMI), and DM. A multistate model enabled us to assess the impact of GLP-1RA as a time-dependent variable on the transition of patients with DTC from a "no/stable disease" state to a "recurrence/progression" state.

A total of 1072 patients, median age 49, 71% females, 54% with DM, mean BMI ± SD 35 ± 7 kg/m², 84% with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I disease, 58% with American Thyroid Association (ATA) intermediate or high risk of recurrence, with median GLP-1RA exposure of 16 months were followed for a median of 69 months. GLP-1RA use was not significantly associated with recurrence or progression of disease in the survival cohort [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62-1.21, P = .39) or the entire cohort (HR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.54-1.03, P = .07) on a multivariable model adjusted for age, ATA risk, radioactive iodine therapy, and DM.

We did not find GLP-1RA to be significantly associated with recurrent/progressive DTC. Eligible patients with DTC should not be denied the cardiometabolic benefits of GLP-1RA when clinically indicated.