Risk of neoplasms with semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Design
- Meta-analysis · 38160 participants · Unknown outcome
- Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
- Different population[Auto] Synthesis of studies conducted predominantly in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Could weight loss explain it?
- Unknown[Auto] Harm signal; weight-loss mediation not the relevant question, but consider whether harms relate to rapid weight loss or reduced intake.
- Study tier
- Study tier 2[Auto] Systematic review/meta-analysis of randomized trials (auto-provisional; heterogeneity and included-study quality not assessed).
- Assessment
- Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 20, 2026
Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.
[Auto, unreviewed; quoted from abstract conclusions] Semaglutide use in patients with T2DM is associated with a modestly increased risk of overall and benign neoplasms, but not malignant neoplasms. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining clinical awareness regarding potential neoplastic risks, and further long-term RCTs are warranted to clarify their clinical significance.
01Findings
What the study reported
- Drugs
- Semaglutide
- Route
- oral
- Primary outcome
- Not extracted
- Effect
- Not extracted
- 95% confidence interval
- Not extracted
- Follow-up
- 156 weeks
- Adverse events
- Not extracted
- Limitations
- Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.
Who was studied
- Diabetes status
- type 2 diabetes present (all or most)
- Sample size
- 38160
Study quality details
- Study design
- Meta-analysis
- Sample size
- 38160
- Randomization
- n/a
- Blinding
- not stated
- Comparator
- not stated
- Follow up duration
- 156 weeks
- Outcome type
- unknown
- Replication
- not assessed (auto)
- Consistency with other evidence
- not assessed (auto)
- Population applicability
- INDIRECT
- Statistical precision
- CI reported: 95% confidence interval (95% CI
- Risk of bias
- not assessed (auto)
- Funding conflicts
- unclear
- Peer review status
- yes
02Funding
Funding and conflicts
- Funding
- not reported in abstract
- Industry funded
- Unclear
- Manufacturer
- None identified
- Sponsor role
- not reported in abstract
- Author conflicts
- The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
- Independent replication
- unknown
Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.
04Source
The source, as retrieved
Abstract
[BACKGROUND] Semaglutide is prescribed in conjunction with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, its potential impact on tumorigenesis has prompted considerable debate. [METHODS] The meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We searched Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The outcome was the risk of overall, benign and malignant neoplasms. The pooled results were expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Influential publication was determined by performing the sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot, Begg's and Egger's tests. [RESULTS] Nineteen RCTs conducted between 2016 and 2025 were included, enrolling of 38,160 patients with T2DM. The interventions involved subcutaneous semaglutide and oral semaglutide, with treatment durations ranging from 26 to 156 weeks. Fixed-effects meta-analysis revealed that semaglutide use was associated with an increased risk of overall neoplasms (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.32, P = 0.001) and benign neoplasms (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.61, P = 0.032), but showed no significant association with malignant neoplasms (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.26, P = 0.054). No influential publications or significant publication bias were detected. [CONCLUSION] Semaglutide use in patients with T2DM is associated with a modestly increased risk of overall and benign neoplasms, but not malignant neoplasms. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining clinical awareness regarding potential neoplastic risks, and further long-term RCTs are warranted to clarify their clinical significance. [SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION] https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261354386, Identifier CRD420261354386.
Where this record came from
| Source | Retrieved | Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| pubmed | Sep 20, 2026 | 42757217 first ingestion |