Risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and associations with gastrointestinal cancers

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and cancer risk: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

Fatty liver disease may be associated with increased risks of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cancers. Our objective was to investigate associations between new subcategories of steatotic liver disease (SLD) recently proposed by nomenclature consensus group and cancer risk.

METHODS

A total of 283 238 participants from the UK Biobank were included. Based on information on cardiometabolic factors, alcohol consumption and the specific aetiology of SLD, individuals were categorized into four groups: no SLD (n = 170 885), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, n = 74 510), MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD, n = 23 320) and other SLD (n = 6718). Outcomes were overall incident cancer (n = 39 352) and 21 site-specific cancers. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate relationships between subcategories of SLD and cardiometabolic factors in MASLD with cancer risk. Population attributable risk (PAR) of cancer associated with SLD was estimated.

RESULTS

MASLD was the most prevalent SLD in the general population. All SLD subcategories were associated with elevated risks of overall cancer, digestive system cancers (except gastric cancer) and breast cancer (HRs 1.079-4.663). Additionally, MASLD was associated with increased risks of renal cancer, endometrial cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma. Compared to MetALD and other SLDs, MASLD has a higher PAR% for the majority of aforementioned cancers. This could be largely explained by its common metabolic abnormalities, dominantly characterized by overweight/obesity and elevated blood pressure, concomitant with hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

All subcategories of SLD, particularly MASLD with multiple metabolic abnormalities, were associated with increased risks of multiple cancers, providing a new perspective for cancer prevention.

Global trends in esophageal cancer and metabolic syndrome research: bibliometric analysis and visualization from 1995 to 2024

PURPOSE

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) plays a key role in the progression of esophageal cancer (EC), yet few studies have comprehensively explored research trends on this topic. To fill this gap, this study analyzes global research developments, hotspots, and collaborations related to MetS and EC.

METHODS

A total of 1008 publications from 1995 to 2024 were analyzed using bibliometric tools like VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package 'bibliometrix', drawing from the Web of Science Core Collection.

RESULTS

The analysis includes contributions from 5,183 researchers at 1500 institutions across 85 countries, with publications appearing in 411 journals. The United States, China, and the United Kingdom are leading in both publication volume and research impact. Karolinska Institutet emerged as a prominent contributor to this body of work. Key journals include the Diseases of the Esophagus and Gastroenterology. Main areas cover metabolic factors, metabolic surgery, adipokines, lifestyle risk factors, cirrhosis & portal hypertension. Emerging trends focus on "metabolic syndrome and EC risk", "inflammation and adipokines", "bariatric surgery and EC prevention", "post-surgical outcomes", "early detection strategies".

CONCLUSION

As the first comprehensive bibliometric study on MetS and EC, this research highlights metabolism-related factors driving EC progression. Future research should focus on clarifying MetS-EC mechanisms and developing prevention and treatment strategies.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and its link to cancer

Metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a growing global health concern with significant implications for oncogenesis. This review synthesizes current evidence on the association between MASLD and cancer risk, highlighting its role as a risk factor for both intrahepatic and extrahepatic malignancies. MASLD is increasingly recognized as a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with its incidence rising in parallel with the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction. Furthermore, MASLD is associated with an elevated risk of various gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal, esophageal, stomach, and pancreatic cancers. Beyond the digestive tract, evidence suggests that MASLD may also contribute to an increased risk of other cancers such as breast, prostate, thyroid, gynecological, renal and lung cancers. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these associations and the impact of MASLD on cancer risk is crucial for developing targeted screening and prevention strategies.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and extrahepatic gastrointestinal cancers

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) poses a significant and ever-increasing health and economic burden worldwide. Substantial epidemiological evidence shows that MASLD is a multisystem disease that is associated not only with liver-related complications but is also associated with an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic comorbidities and extrahepatic cancers (principally gastrointestinal [GI] cancers). GI cancers account for a quarter of the global cancer incidence and a third of cancer-related deaths. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the literature on (a) the epidemiological data on the risk of non-liver GI cancers in MASLD, (b) the putative mechanisms by which MASLD (and factors linked with MASLD) may increase this risk, and (c) the possible pharmacotherapies beneficially affecting both MASLD and extrahepatic GI cancer risk. There are multiple potential pathophysiological mechanisms by which MASLD may increase extrahepatic GI cancer risk. Although further studies are needed, the current evidence supports a possible extrahepatic carcinogenic role for MASLD, regardless of obesity and diabetes status, thus highlighting the potential role of tailoring cancer screening for individuals with MASLD. Although there are conflicting data in the literature, aspirin, statins and metformin appear to exert some chemo-preventive effects against GI cancer.

Association between nonalcholic fatty liver disease and pancreatic cancer: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and antidiabetic medication

Extrahepatic malignancies are the leading cause of death in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Of these cancers, pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal; however, the link between NAFLD and pancreatic cancer remains unclear. Recently, various research results have been reported on the association between NAFLD and pancreatic cancer, and the results of compiling this information revealed the following. First, the prevalence of pancreatic cancer in patients with NAFLD is at 0.26%. Second, the currently evident pathogenesis includes intrapancreatic risk factors, such as: (1) non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease, and (2) intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm; and extrapancreatic risk factors, such as: (1) insulin resistance and adipocytokines, (2) proinflammatory cytokines, and (3) dysbiosis. Finally, metformin and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in diabetes patients with NAFLD. In this review, we summarize the recent evidence on the epidemiology and mechanisms for NAFLD-related pancreatic cancer. We further discuss the impact of anti-diabetic medication on pancreatic cancer.

Australians with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease have a twofold increase in the incidence of cancer

Background and Aim

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with an increased risk of extrahepatic morbidity. We compared the incidence of cancers in adults admitted to Queensland hospitals with MASLD with that for the Queensland population and examined the association between cirrhosis and type 2 diabetes and the development of extrahepatic cancers.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we identified all cancers (Queensland Cancer Registry) after the first hospitalization with MASLD during Jul-2007 to Dec-2019, estimated age-standardized incidence (ASI) of cancers, and compared that with the ASI in the Queensland population (incidence rate ratios [IRR]). Among the MASLD cohort, we examined the association between diabetes and cancer risk (Cox regression). Median follow-up was 3.8 years (54 204 person-years).

Results

Totally 1104 new cancers were diagnosed in 1018 patients (8.9% of 9771 non-cirrhotic and 1712 adults with cirrhosis). The ASI (all cancers) of 1668.2 per 100 000 person-years in men (95% CI 1523.7-1827.4) and 1284.0 per 100 000 person-years in women (95% CI 1169.6-1408.2) was 2-fold higher than that of the Queensland population (IRR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.75-2.16 and IRR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.78-2.22, respectively). Incidence of stomach cancer, unknown primary, and pancreas was 3- to 5-fold higher compared to the general population (all P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis of the MASLD cohort, older age (e.g. ≥70 years adjusted hazard ratio [adj-HR] = 4.59, 95% CI 3.61-5.83), male gender (adj-HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.05-1.37), and cirrhosis (adj-HR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.70) were independently associated with extrahepatic cancer risk, while diabetes was not.

Conclusions

Our findings will help to raise awareness among clinicians about the importance of cancer vigilance in this patient group.

[Risk analysis of serum chemical residues for metabolic associated fatty liver disease based on exposome-lipidome wide association study]

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common liver disease with a prevalence of up to 25%; it not only adversely affects human health but also aggravates the economic burden of society. An increasing number of studies have suggested that the occurrence of chronic noncommunicable diseases is affected by both environmental exposures and genetic factors. Research has also shown that environmental pollution may increase the risk of MAFLD and promote its occurrence and development. However, the relationship between these concepts, as well as the underlying exposure effects and mechanism, remains incompletely understood. Lipidomics, a branch of metabolomics that studies lipid disorders, can help researchers investigate abnormal lipid metabolites in various disease states. Lipidome-exposome wide association studies are a promising paradigm for investigating the health effects of cumulative environmental exposures on biological responses, and could provide new ideas for determining the associations between metabolic and lipid changes and disease risk caused by chemical-pollutant exposure. Hence, in this study, targeted exposomics and nontargeted lipidomics studies based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) were used to characterize exogenous chemical pollutants and endogenous lipid metabolites in the sera of patients with MAFLD and healthy subjects. The results demonstrated that fipronil sulfone, malathion dicarboxylic acid, and monocyclohexyl phthalate may be positively associated with the disease risk of patients diagnosed as simple fatty liver disease (hereafter referred to as MAFLD(0)). Moreover, fipronil sulfone, acesulfame potassium, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), 4-hydroxybenzophenone, and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (DBPOB) may be positively associated with the disease risk of patients diagnosed as fatty liver complicated by single or multiple metabolic disorders. Association analysis was carried out to explore the lipid metabolites induced by chemical residues. Triglyceride (TG) and diglyceride (DG) were significantly increased in MAFLD and MAFLD(0). The numbers of carbons of significantly changed DGs and TGs were mainly in the ranges of 32-40 and 35-60, respectively, and both were mainly characterized by changes in polyunsaturated lipids. Most of the lipid-effect markers were positively correlated with chemical residues and associated with increased disease risk. Our research provides a scientific basis for studies on the association and mechanism between serum chemical-pollutant residues and disease outcomes.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and socioeconomic determinants in an Iranian cohort study

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is widespread worldwide. On the other hand, social inequality and socioeconomic status (SES) can affect all aspects of health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between SES indicators and NAFLD.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study using data from the registration phase of the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study, which included 10,009 individuals aged 35-70 years from May 2016 to August 2018. Fatty liver disease was determined based on Fatty Liver Index (FLI). The crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated by logistic regression analysis to estimate associations between the fatty liver index and SES after controlling the potential confounders.

RESULTS

According to the FLI index, there were 2,006 people with fatty liver (28%) and 5,246 people without fatty liver (72%). Several 4496 people (62%) were women. The chi-square test showed significant relationships between the educational level and skill level (P < 0.001), the wealth index (P < 0.001), and Townsend Index (P < 0.001) with fatty liver index. In multivariable analysis, after adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, smoking, type of residence, calorie intake, dyslipidemia, skill level, and diabetes, the wealth index (p < 0.001) was positively associated with the fatty liver index. Besides, a reverse and significant association was seen between the Townsend index and the fatty liver index(p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant associations were seen between gender and educational level with the fatty liver index.

CONCLUSIONS

A more vulnerable SES is associated with NAFLD. Fatty liver index and socioeconomic indicators can be powerful monitoring tools to monitor health differences in diagnosing NAFLD.

Postoperative ratio of C-reactive protein to albumin is an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

The role of postoperative of the ratio of c-reactive protein to albumin (CRP/Alb ratio) in the prognosis of gastric cancer is rarely evaluated. Our purpose was to investigate the correlation of the postoperative CRP/Alb ratio and long-term prognosis of gastric cancer.

METHODS

We enrolled 430 patients who suffered from radical gastrectomy. The commonly used inflammatory indices, clinical-pathological characteristics and oncologic outcomes were recorded. The median was used to the cut-off value for preoperative and postoperative CRP/Alb ratio, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression model were performed to determine its prognostic significance.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, there were significant differences were observed in overall survival (OS) according to perioperative CRP/Alb ratio, c-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin (Alb), respectively. According to the multivariate analysis, higher postoperative CRP/Alb ratio (HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.55-2.66, P < 0.001), lower postoperative albumin (Alb), higher preoperative c-reactive protein (CRP) and higher postoperative CRP were indicated a shorter overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative inflammatory factors in patients with gastric cancer should be pay attention, especially postoperative CRP/Alb ratio may be an independent predictor of long-term prognosis of gastric cancer.

Extrahepatic Outcomes of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Nonhepatocellular Cancers

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses the entire spectrum of fatty liver disease in individuals without significant alcohol consumption, including isolated steatosis, steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis. The overall global prevalence of NAFLD is estimated to be 30%, and the associated clinical and economic burden will continue to increase. NAFLD is a multisystemic disease with established links to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and intra- and extrahepatic malignancies. In this article the authors review the potential mechanisms and current evidence for the association between NAFLD and extrahepatic cancers and the resultant impact on clinical outcomes.

Hot Spots and Trends in the Relationship between Cancer and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Knowledge Graph Analysis

Cancer is one of the most difficult medical problems in today's world. There are many factors that induce cancer in humans, and obesity has become an important factor in inducing cancer. This study systematically and quantitatively describes the development trend, current situation and research hotspot of the relationship between cancer and obesity by using document statistics and knowledge graph visualization technology. Through the visualization technology analysis of knowledge graph in this study, the research hotspot and knowledge base source of the relationship between cancer and obesity in the last 20 years have been ascertained. Obesity-related factors, such as immunity, insulin, adiponectin, adipocytokines, nonalcoholic fatty liver and inflammatory reaction, may affect the occurrence of obesity and increase the risk of cancer. Obesity-related cancers include respiratory cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer, etc. Our research provides direction and basis for future research in this field, as well as technical and knowledge basis support for experts and researchers in related medical fields.