Clinical medicine insights. Case reportsAug 30, 2026

Liraglutide may reverse tamoxifen-related weight gain and metabolism problems in a breast cancer survivor

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Aug 31, 2026

Abstract

A 58-year-old woman lost 18.5 kg over 12 months while using liraglutide after experiencing weight gain from tamoxifen therapy.

Tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer is linked to significant weight gain and metabolic issues.
The subject developed prediabetes, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia during tamoxifen treatment.
Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, was administered at a dose of 3.0 mg/day.
After one year on liraglutide, weight loss and normalization of metabolic parameters, including insulin resistance and blood sugar levels, were observed.
The case indicates potential benefits of liraglutide in managing weight gain and metabolic derangements associated with tamoxifen use.

Simplified

Introduction: Adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer - particularly tamoxifen - is commonly associated with weight gain, increased adiposity, and metabolic dysfunction. Lifestyle measures often fail to reverse these effects. Evidence regarding glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in this specific context remains limited. Reversal of tamoxifen-associated weight gain with liraglutide has been rarely reported. Case Presentation: A 58-year-old postmenopausal woman with stage IIA, hormone-receptor positive breast cancer experienced marked weight gain after 24 months of tamoxifen therapy, despite diet and exercise. She developed prediabetes, insulin resistance (assessed by Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR] 4.9), and dyslipidemia. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, was initiated and titrated to 3.0 mg/day. Over 12 months, she lost 18.5 kg, and her metabolic parameters, including HOMA-IR and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), normalized. Tamoxifen therapy was continued without adverse effects. Conclusion: This case suggests that liraglutide may reverse substantial tamoxifen-associated weight gain and related metabolic derangements in a breast cancer survivor. The observed improvement exceeded what is typically achieved with lifestyle measures alone. Formal studies are needed to define the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in managing endocrine therapy-related metabolic complications.

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Liraglutide may reverse tamoxifen-related weight gain and metabolism problems in a breast cancer survivor

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