{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,20]],"date-time":"2026-10-20T01:38:24Z","timestamp":1792460304286,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]],"date-time":"2025-11-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762732800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Genes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, are now being investigated as agents in oncology. Recent preclinical studies have demonstrated their antitumor activity in several solid malignancies, including pancreatic, colorectal, breast, and prostate. Importantly, GLP-1 RAs modulate key signalling pathways such as PI3K\/Akt, PKA, and AMPK, and exert anti-inflammatory effects by reducing cytokine production and macrophage infiltration. Preclinical data support their antineoplastic activity in vitro and in vivo, particularly by inhibiting tumour growth and metastasis. Nevertheless, there are ongoing concerns about tumorigenic effects in certain cancer types. This review critically examines the molecular mechanisms by which GLP-1 RAs influence cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and inflammation, and emphasizes the need for further clinical studies to determine their therapeutic relevance. It also proposes assessing GLP-1 RAs as adjuncts in the management of solid tumours.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/genes16111352","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]],"date-time":"2025-11-10T08:57:55Z","timestamp":1762765075000},"page":"1352","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Solid Tumour Therapy: Exploring Their Anticancer Potential and Underlying Molecular Pathways"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Daniela","family":"Lucente","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanit\u00e0, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1149-3835","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefania","family":"Bellino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanit\u00e0, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5020-8657","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna","family":"La Salvia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanit\u00e0, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1007\/s12020-019-02055-z","article-title":"GLP-1 receptor agonists and risk of cancer in type 2 diabetes: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"66","author":"Cao","year":"2019","journal-title":"Endocrine"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1186","DOI":"10.1001\/jamaoncol.2025.2681","article-title":"GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Cancer Risk in Adults With Obesity","volume":"11","author":"Dai","year":"2025","journal-title":"JAMA Oncol."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"36","article-title":"Decoding breast cancer treatment resistance through genetic, epigenetic, and immune-regulatory mechanisms: From molecular insights to translational perspectives","volume":"8","author":"Saha","year":"2025","journal-title":"Cancer Drug Resist."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Makena, M.R., Ranjan, A., Thirumala, V., and Reddy, A.P. 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