A new study has found that a combination of two drugs could enhance the immune system to treat one of the most common types of cancer in the world, bowel cancer. Also known as colorectal cancer, despite its widespread presence, the treatment options for this condition are limited. What the study specifically found was that this procedure could shrink the tumours caused by this condition by around 60%.

What Are The Drugs Involved

The trial involved the use of two immunotherapy drugs, botancilimab and balstilumab. It is a monoclonal antibody that works to stimulate the body's immune system to attack cancer. The study is a rather significant find, as it’s the first time that a consistent and durable response to immunotherapy has been reported in patients with solid MSS mCRC tumours.

The study was divided into several phases for more than 6 months. In the US trial, around around 101 patients with microsatile stable metastatic colorectal (MSS-mCRC) tumours showed a decrease . Around 61% of the patients experienced tumour shrinkage or stabilization after combined treatment with votancilumab and balstilumab. When it comes to downsides, diarrhea and fatigue were found to be the most common side effects or side effects of this drug.

These results are interesting and open to exploration. To date, immunotherapy has not been effective in patients with CNS-mCRC tumors. This study demonstrates the potential of the combination of botenlimab and balstilimab in the treatment of CNS mCRC, providing new hope for people diagnosed with colon cancer.

What Could This Mean For Bowel Cancer Treatment In The Future

The study is currently in the final stages of clinical trials, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hopes to quickly gain approval for its use because of the importance of this area that affects many people. The efficiency shown demonstrates the potential of botansilimab to contribute to broad antitumor immunity.

All in all, the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab represents a promising new direction in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This breakthrough could improve conditions for many patients worldwide and lights a new hope in the fight against this common disease. The results of this study show the effectiveness of immunotherapy in this field and how its potential to transform cancer treatment can only grow in the years to come.

GLP-1 medications, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also be associated with a lower risk of serious complications after surgery, a new study suggests.

The study, involving more than 2 million adults undergoing surgery, found that people taking GLP-1 medications had lower rates of major cardiovascular complications and postoperative infections than those not taking the drugs. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Houston presented the findings at the Anesthesiology 2026 annual meeting.

"GLP-1 medications have become part of everyday care for many people with diabetes or obesity, but physicians still need more evidence about how these drugs affect patients around the time of surgery," said lead author Josephine Tolan, an anesthesiologist at the Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

Tolan added that although the results are encouraging, more research is needed to determine if the medications themselves are driving these benefits and how best to manage them before and after surgery.

What Are The Key Findings

Also read: Exclusive: GLP-1 Drugs Are The ‘New Statins’, Says University Hospital Birmingham Professor

Researchers analyzed data from the Epic Cosmos database, a de-identified electronic health record database covering more than 1,700 hospitals and 40,000 clinics.

The study included US adults aged 18 and older who underwent elective surgeries lasting more than 60 minutes and stayed in the hospital for at least 24 hours after surgery between January 2016 and December 2024. Of the 2,028,601 patients included, 145,610, or about 7%, were taking GLP-1 medications.

After matching GLP-1 users with similar patients who were not taking the drugs, researchers found that GLP-1 use was associated with:

• 11% lower odds of major cardiovascular complications, including heart attack, heart injury, stroke or death.
• 8% lower odds of postoperative infections, including surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and sepsis.

How Might GLP-1 Drugs Affect Surgical Outcomes?

Read More: GLP-1 Drugs May Offer Mental Health Benefits, Reduce Schizophrenia Relapses: Lancet Study

Previous research has shown that GLP-1 medications can lower the risk of cardiovascular problems in some patients. However, their effects during and after surgery remain less clear.

Surgery places stress on the body, can trigger inflammation and may cause changes in blood pressure, blood sugar and circulation, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications and infections, the researchers explained.

Further, they suggest that GLP-1 medications may be associated with fewer cardiovascular complications because they support weight loss, improve blood pressure and blood sugar control, reduce inflammation and may protect heart muscle during periods of stress.

These medications may also help reduce infection risk by improving blood sugar control. High blood sugar can weaken the body's immune response, making it harder to fight infections.

GLP-1 Drugs And Cardiovascular Health

READ: Ozempic Baby: Can GLP-1 Drugs Help Women With PMOS Conceive?

Research has found that people taking GLP-1 medications to treat diabetes, overweight or obesity have fewer major cardiovascular events, like heart attack or stroke, compared to people not taking GLP-1 medications.

In fact, the American College of Cardiology now recommends GLP-1 drugs as a way to reduce cardiovascular disease risk through weight loss.

When weight decreases, so does blood pressure, inflammation, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, and protective factors like good (HDL) cholesterol increase. In other words, overweight or obese individuals who are prescribed a GLP-1 for weight loss may experience positive changes to their heart health, especially if they are at risk of heart disease.

Smokeless tobacco accounted for 57.3% of mouth cancers among men in India, while tobacco in any form estimated to be at least 73.4% of mouth cancers among women, according to a new study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research.

The study, Head and Neck Cancer Burden Attributable to Tobacco Use in India: National and Region-wise Estimates, sheds light on the differences in tobacco-related cancer risks by sex, cancer site and region. The findings also bring attention to the role of smokeless tobacco products and their contribution to head and neck cancer burden in India.

The researchers estimated that eliminating tobacco exposure could prevent a bulk proportion of these cancers.

Smokeless Tobacco Linked To Mouth And Lip Cancers

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Ex-CDC Vaccine Advisor Says Measles Outbreak Bigger Than Reported, Slams RFK Jr’s ‘No-See Evil’ Approach

Researchers studied records of 11,285 patients diagnosed with head and neck cancers and 7,154 people with non-cancerous conditions who visited the Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India between 2019 and 2024.

Among men, smokeless tobacco accounted for 61.8% of lip cancers, 30.7% of tongue cancers and 57.3% of mouth cancers.

On the other hand, almost 40.2% of cancers of the base of the tongue, tonsils and oropharynx, 45.7% of hypopharyngeal cancers and 38.4% of laryngeal cancers were attributed to smoking.

The authors highlighted how smoking and smokeless tobacco expose oral tissues to carcinogens. The authors wrote, “This may be because smokeless tobacco directly contacts the oral cavity, causing prolonged exposure of the tongue to carcinogens, whereas smoking produces more diffuse and less concentrated exposure.”

The study also found that 55.3% of men with mouth cancer used smokeless tobacco, compared to 17.5% of men in the comparison group. Among men diagnosed with hypopharyngeal cancer, 85% smoked.

High Burden Of Tobacco-Related Mouth Cancer Among Women

Also read: Breast Cancer Awareness Day: Experts Explain Most Overlooked Breast Changes That Can Delay Diagnosis In Men

Among women, smokeless tobacco accounted for around 68.8% of lip cancers and 68% of mouth cancers. Smoking accounted for 41% of oropharyngeal cancers and 34% of hypopharyngeal cancers.

The researchers estimated that the odds of mouth cancer among women who used smokeless tobacco were 17.6 times those among non-users. Among men, the corresponding odds ratio was 5.5.

Tobacco Cancer Risks Across States

The study also shows differences in tobacco-related cancer risks between states. Among men, the estimated proportion of mouth cancers due to smokeless tobacco was 71% in Jharkhand and 70.3% in Odisha.

In southern India, the estimates were 50.2% in Karnataka, 35.1% in Tamil Nadu, 33.9% in Telangana, 25.6% in Andhra Pradesh and 25.1% in Kerala.

Among women, the estimated proportion of mouth cancers due to smokeless tobacco exceeded 80% in Chhattisgarh, Odisha and several Northeastern states. In Tripura, it was around 90.4%.

The authors said that these differences could be due to regional variations in tobacco consumption and the products used.

However, the study used cancer risk estimates derived from hospital-based data in Kerala and applied them nationally because state-specific risk estimates were unavailable.

The authors addressed this limitation, stating, “In this study, due to limited State-specific data, cancer risk from tobacco exposures was assumed uniform nationwide.”

The researchers stressed the need for prevention by improving access to tobacco cessation services, especially in regions with high estimated burdens of tobacco-related cancers.

“The findings emphasise the need to strengthen tobacco cessation services, especially for high-risk men in regions with elevated population attributable fractions,” the authors wrote.

Health authorities in Australia's New South Wales have warned against unapproved peptide products after emergency department presentations linked to their use surged.

NSW Health recorded 1,180 peptide-related hospital presentations between July 2025 and September 2026, with about a quarter involving young people aged 16 to 24.

Retatrutide Accounts For 71% ER Visits

Retatrutide accounted for 71% of peptide-related emergency hospital admissions. Products described generically as “peptides” or by other names accounted for another 38%, while 8% involved combinations of products, News.com.au reported.

Peptides have gained popularity through social media, where influencers promote them for weight loss, muscle growth, injury recovery and anti-aging. However, unapproved products may have uncertain composition, quality and safety.

Peptide-Related Emergency Visits Rise 4,240%

Also read: 21% In 80 Weeks: Lancet Study Finds Lilly’s Retatrutide Delivers One Of The Biggest Weight Losses Ever

Monthly hospital emergency visits rose from five in July 2025 to 217 in September 2026, an increase of 4,240%. New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park warned that unapproved substances posed health risks and placed additional pressure on public hospitals.

“Even when a product looks professional or comes in convincing packaging, that does not guarantee it is safe for use,” Park said.

Young people aged 16 to 24 accounted for about a quarter of presentations. Those aged 25 to 34 made up 32%, while 26% were aged 35 to 44. Men accounted for 51% of cases.

Health Risks Of Using Unapproved Peptides

Patients presenting to emergency departments after adverse reactions reported symptoms including

• abdominal pain,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• chest pain,
• anaphylaxis
• allergic reactions.

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approves some peptide-based products, but many promoted online are not approved and may be unlawful to import, supply or advertise. These include BPC-157, GHK-Cu, TB-500, retatrutide and CJC-1295.

NSW Health Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant cautioned that products sold under the same label could vary in composition and strength.

“A professional looking website, a label, purity claim, reviews, or influencer endorsement is not proof of what is inside the product,” Chant said.

She urged people to consult their general practitioner about potential risks and safer, evidence-based alternatives.

Read More: GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro Tied To Over 60 Reported Deaths In Australia

What Is Retatrutide, And What Are The Risks?

Retatrutide is an investigational obesity drug developed by Eli Lilly. It targets three hormone receptors involved in appetite, blood sugar and energy balance: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon.

In a Phase 2 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, participants receiving the highest dose lost an average of 24.2% of their body weight over 48 weeks. A Phase 3 trial published in The Lancet reported nearly 21% average weight loss among participants with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Despite these results, retatrutide remains investigational and is not yet FDA-approved.

There have been several unbranded, generic copies of the Retatrutide chemical sequence manufactured by unregulated chemical labs and sold online. It may not have verified composition, quality or strength.

The drug has been dubbed the “Godzilla” of weight-loss jabs. A recent report by the Daily Mail showed 129 symptoms associated with its use, including skin-burning sensations, panic attacks, a racing heartbeat and depression.

Professor Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, warned against purchasing unlicensed weight-loss products online. “I would urge people to avoid buying unlicensed weight-loss products online,” he said, according to Daily Mail. “There is no certainty about what these products contain, and without proper regulatory oversight there is a risk of adverse effects.”