Association of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Therapies and Risk of Cancer in Liver Transplant Patients
Recommended Citation
Faisal MS, Fatima M, Saleem A, Chaudhary AJ, Shahzil M, Abusuliman M, Faisal MS, Jafri S. Association of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Therapies and Risk of Cancer in Liver Transplant Patients. Am J Gastroenterol 2024; 119(10):S1368.
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
10-1-2024
Publication Title
Am J Gastroenterol
Abstract
Introduction: Patients who undergo liver transplantation are at higher risk of complications from diabetes and obesity. Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) analogues have revolutionized management of these conditions and are increasingly being used in post-transplant patients. However, the safety of these agents in this population, particularly their association with cancer risk, is controversial. We aimed to assess the association of semaglutide and tirzepatide with cancer in patients who undergo liver transplant. Methods: All patients who underwent liver transplant at our institution were included from 2018-2023. We did a retrospective cohort study to assess whether they received GLP-1 analogues, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, before and after liver transplant. Data including patient demographics, comorbidities and exposure was collected. Primary outcome was development of malignancy. Secondary outcomes were 1-and 3-year mortality. Results: Overall, 366 patients underwent liver transplant from 2018-2023. Of these, 42(13%) were exposed to semaglutide or tirzepatide while 324(88%) had no such exposure after transplant. No patients were exposed before transplant. The mean age was 58.12 +/- 7.6 in the exposed group and 58.44 +/- 11.5 in the control group. 14(33.6%) were female in the exposed group while (119) 36.7% were female in the control group. 37(88.1%) in the exposed group had diabetes while 111(34.2%) in the control group had diabetes(P<0.001). Similarly, 28(66.7%) patients in the exposed group had BMI >30 while 111(34.5%) patients in the control group had BMI >30(P<0.001). Follow up period was 3.74 +/-1.3 years 4.01 +/-1.5 years in the exposed and control groups respectively. In this period, 2(4.8%) patients in the exposed group were diagnosed with cancer versus 26(8.1%) in the control group (P=0.76). There was no cancer related mortality at 1 year while at 3 years, it was similar in both groups. For malignancies, 1(50%) patient in the exposed group had HCC, while 5(18%) patients in the control group had either HCC or CCA. No patient in the exposed group was diagnosed with skin malignancies, while 13(46%) patients in the control group were diagnosed with such malignancies. 11 in the control group were diagnosed with other malignancies including lymphoma, follicular thyroid cancer, and leukemia. Conclusion: The use of semaglutide and tirzepatide was not associated with cancer in patients who undergo liver transplantation. We were limited by single center and smaller number of patients (see Table 1).
Volume
119
Issue
10
First Page
S1368