Title:Steatotic Shadows: The Dark Link Between Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Cancer Risk
Volume: 32
Issue: 20
Author(s): Shakta Mani Satyam, Mohamed El-Tanani*, Syed Arman Rabbani, Alaa A. Aljabali, Yahia El-Tanani, Dimitrios Patoulias and Manfredi Rizzo
Affiliation:
- College of Pharmacy, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Keywords:
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, extrahepatic cancer, genetic polymorphism, insulin resistance.
Abstract: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has become a worldwide
health crisis. In addition to its effects on liver function, MASLD intensely increases the risk of hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC) and a number of extrahepatic cancers, including breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.
This review explores the complex network of molecular pathways linking MASLD to cancer, emphasizing the
involvement of oxidative stress, lipotoxicity, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Genetic variations in important genes, including PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and MBOAT7, increase this
risk by hastening the course of the disease and making a person more susceptible to cancer. By shedding light
on these important pathways and genetic factors, this research not only advances knowledge of the relationship
between MASLD and cancer but also opens the door for novel treatment approaches meant to reduce the
risk of cancer in MASLD patients. Millions of people afflicted by this deadly but silent illness may benefit
from novel therapies that target these fundamental systems.
