Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Head and Neck Cancer in Type 2 Diabetes after SGLT2I, DPP4I, and GLP1a Use

May 22, 2025Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Nasopharyngeal and Head and Neck Cancer in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Using SGLT2, DPP4, or GLP-1 Drugs

AI simplified

GLP-1 Therapies on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Abstract

Out of 75,884 patients with type 2 diabetes, 106 developed (NPC) while on treatment.

(SGLT2Is) are linked to a lower risk of developing NPC compared to (DPP4Is).
The hazard ratio for NPC among patients treated with SGLT2Is is 0.41, suggesting a significant reduction in risk.
No difference in the risk of head and neck cancer was observed between SGLT2Is and DPP4Is, with a hazard ratio of 1.00.
The findings were consistent across various risk models and sensitivity analyses.
Further research is needed to confirm the biological effects of SGLT2Is on NPC risk.

AI simplified

UNLABELLED: (NPC) remains a major endemic disease in parts of Asia especially Southern China and Southest Asia, the risk factors of which are distinct from other head and neck cancers. Antidiabetic drugs have been proposed to reduce the risk of NPC. The associations between (SGLT2I) versus (DPP4I) and the risks of NPC and head and neck cancer among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unknown. This was a population-based cohort study including patients with T2DM treated with either an SGLT2I or a DPP4I between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, in Hong Kong. Propensity score matching (1:1 ratio) was performed using the nearest neighbor search. Multivariable Cox regression was applied to identify significant predictors. The primary outcome was new-onset NPC and other head and neck cancers. We found that patients with T2DM were treated with either an SGLT2I or a DPP4I between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, in Hong Kong. This cohort included 75,884 patients with T2DM, among whom 28,778 patients were on an SGLT2I and 47,106 patients were on a DPP4I. After matching (57,556 patients), 106 patients developed NPC and 50 patients developed head and neck cancer. Compared with DPP4Is, SGLT2Is were associated with lower risks of NPC (HR, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.81) but not of head and neck cancer (HR, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-3.92) after adjustments. The association remained consistent in different risk models, matching approaches, and sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, this study provided real-world evidence that SGLT2Is were associated with lower risks of NPC but not of head and neck cancer when compared with DPP4Is among patients with T2DM, whereas their biological effects need future confirmation.

PREVENTION RELEVANCE: This study provided real-world evidence that SGLT2Is were associated with lower risks of NPC but not of head and neck cancer when compared with DPP4Is among patients with T2DM. SGLT2Is should be considered before DPP4Is about the risks of NPC in regions with high prevalence of NPC.

Key numbers

0.41

Lower Risk of

Hazard Ratio comparing users to users for risk

1.00

Higher Risk of Head and Neck Cancer

Hazard Ratio comparing users to users for head and neck cancer risk

19.43

Incidence Rate of

Incidence rate of per 100,000 person-years among users

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license. Use the link below to read it at the source.

View full text (PDF) ↗View full text ↗

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Head and Neck Cancer in Type 2 Diabetes after SGLT2I, DPP4I, and GLP1a Use

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the glp-1 therapies brief

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the glp-1 therapies brief