July 13, 2026
Jennifer Davis, PhD, assistant professor of Cancer Biology and a member of The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s Obesity, Metabolic Health and Cancer research program, has received a two‑year R21 grant from the National Cancer Institute to study how obesity, metabolism and a widely used weight‑loss drug may influence colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and obesity is a major risk factor. At the same time, medications like tirzepatide - a dual GIP‑1R/GLP‑1R agonist - are now commonly used to help people lose weight and improve blood sugar. While these drugs are highly effective for obesity, scientists still do not fully understand how they affect cancer risk or tumor growth.
To answer these questions, Dr. Davis will use the iKAP mouse model, a genetically engineered system that allows researchers to “switch on” three genetic changes: KRAS, APC and p53, which are three of the most common genetic changes found in colorectal cancer. Dr. Davis and her team can first expose mice to diet‑induced obesity and then activate the cancer‑related genetic changes. This approach allows the team to mimic real‑world conditions, first creating obesity and then starting cancer. This makes it possible to study how tirzepatide works before and after tumors begin, so they can see how the drug behaves in each scenario.
About 11% of Americans report using weight-loss drugs. Understanding how these medications interact with cancer biology is essential for patient safety, prevention strategies and future clinical guidance.
“Weight loss drugs are helping many people manage obesity and diabetes, but we still need to understand how it affects cancer risk,” Dr. Davis said. “This grant lets us study whether the drug can help prevent colorectal cancer, and whether it might have different effects once a tumor has already started. Our goal is to give patients and doctors clearer information.”