Diabetes drug could help cancer patients make better recovery (SGLT2 inhibitors)

Medical Xpress / University of East Anglia / European Journal of Preventive CardiologY ^ | March 6, 2025 | Vassilios Vassiliou et al

[ConservativeMind]

A common type of diabetes medication could help cancer patients make a better long-term recovery, according to research.

Many cancer patients go on to develop heart failure—because of the cancer itself and also due to chemotherapy.

But a study shows that a type of diabetes medication, called an SGLT2 inhibitor, may help protect the heart during and after cancer treatment.

This is the first time that any medication has been shown to be beneficial in reducing heart failure or heart failure hospitalization in cancer patients and survivors.

The medication appears to lower the risk of heart failure and unplanned hospital visits related to heart failure by more than 50%.

And the benefits were found to be particularly promising for breast cancer patients receiving a common chemotherapy type called anthracycline chemotherapy.

Prof Vassilios Vassiliou said, "20% of cancer patients who have had chemotherapy go on to develop heart problems, with up to 10% having heart failure.

"We wanted to see whether SGLT2 inhibitors could help protect the heart during and after cancer treatment."

Analyzing 13 studies with a total of 88,273 cancer patients and survivors, the team found that hospital admissions for heart failure were reduced by half.

The number of new heart failure cases appeared to fall by more than two-thirds (71%), suggesting these pills might help protect the heart during and after cancer treatment, though the research team say that more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Prof Vassiliou said, "What we found is that SGLT2 inhibitors may help protect the heart during and after cancer treatment.

"These medications significantly lowered the risk of heart failure and reduced hospital visits related to heart failure.

"The benefits are particularly promising for breast cancer patients receiving a common type of chemotherapy called anthracycline chemotherapy," he added.

[ConservativeMind]

Heart failure was reduced 50% - 71%, using these drugs. 10% of cancer patients get heart failure, meaning only 5% or less would still have it happen.

[ConservativeMind]

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