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Review
. 2024 Dec 31;10(1):2400797.
doi: 10.1080/20565623.2024.2400797. Epub 2024 Sep 30.

Relationship between SGLT2 inhibitor use and specific cancer types: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Muhammad Ishtiaq Obaid  1 , Mohammad Saiem Shahzad  1 , Fakhar Latif  2 , Muhammad Hamza Khan  3 , Moeez Akram  4 , Syed Asad Mehdi Rizvi  5 , Rana Muhammad Umer Nasrullah  5 , Dayab Asad  5 , Muhammad Adil Obaid  5
Affiliations
Review

Relationship between SGLT2 inhibitor use and specific cancer types: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Muhammad Ishtiaq Obaid et al. Future Sci OA. .

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to explore the incidence of cancer as an adverse event to SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) use in Type 2 diabetes.Materials & methods: The study followed PRISMA guidelines to pool RCTs conforming the inclusion criteria. Random effects model was used to pool risk ratios.Results & conclusion: After reviewing 19 studies, the analysis suggested a possible increased risk of reproductive, breast, thyroid, hematologic/lymphatic, urinary, skin and skeletal cancers with SGLT2i use. Conversely, lower incidences of respiratory and cardiovascular cancers were noted. However, these associations lacked statistical significance. Caution is advised in using SGLT2i due to potential cancer risks, especially in diabetic patients prone to cancer. More RCTs are essential due to limited research in this area.

Keywords: SGLT2 inhibitors; antidiabetic medication; cancer incidence; cancer risk; diabetes mellitus; malignancy; meta-analysis; organ specific cancers; sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors; type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Plain language summary

SGLT2 inhibitors, widely used to manage Type 2 diabetes, provide benefits for blood sugar control, cardiovascular health and kidney function. However, their impact on cancer risk remains unclear. This review and meta-analysis examined randomized controlled trials to evaluate cancer outcomes in adults using SGLT2 inhibitors. Findings indicated mixed effects on various cancer types, with some inhibitors potentially increasing risk while others showed no significant impact. Further research is essential to clarify the relationship between SGLT2 inhibitors and cancer.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Pooled analysis of studies comparing the incidence of (A) reproductive, (B) digestive and (C) breast malignancies in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Pooled analysis of studies comparing the incidence of (A) hematologic and lymphatic, (B) respiratory and (C) urinary malignancies in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Pooled analysis of studies comparing the incidence of (A) skin, (B) thyroid and (C) head and neck malignancies in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Pooled analysis of studies comparing the incidence of (A) central nervous system, (B) cardiovascular, (C) skeletal and (D) unspecified malignancies in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    2. •• Previous meta-analysis on the same topic

    1. Johnson JA, Carstensen B, Witte D, Bowker SL, Lipscombe L, Renehan AG. Diabetes and cancer (1): evaluating the temporal relationship between Type 2 diabetes and cancer incidence. Diabetologia. 2012;55(6):1607–1618. doi: 10.1007/s00125-012-2525-1 - DOI - PubMed

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