Fatty Liver & Cancer: Is There Really a Connection?

The connection between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver cancer has been a subject of intense investigation. Some studies suggest that NAFLD, particularly in its early stages, might create a favorable environment for the growth of liver tumors. Others propose a protective effect. A recent study analyzed data from 120 patients who underwent hepatic resection and/or liver transplantation for primary or secondary hepatic neoplasms. This study sought to clarify the association between NAFLD and various types of liver cancer and whether NAFLD is indeed linked to an increased risk of liver cancer.

The study examined the clinical, laboratory, and histological data of 120 patients. The study found that NAFLD was present in 34.2% of the patients with liver neoplasms, compared to 30% in the general population, which was not statistically significant. A more detailed analysis revealed a significant association between NAFLD and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (LMCC). Patients with LMCC were nearly four times more likely to have NAFLD compared to those with other types of liver cancer, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC).

Patients were excluded from the study if they had a history of alcohol abuse, hepatitis B or C infection, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, or hepatoblastoma. These criteria were crucial to ensure that the findings specifically reflected the relationship between NAFLD and liver cancer, without the influence of other liver diseases that could independently affect liver health and potentially confound the study's results. This allowed researchers to isolate and focus on the direct impact of NAFLD on the development of liver cancer.

The study revealed a significant association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (LMCC). Patients with LMCC were nearly four times more likely to have NAFLD. This suggests that if a patient has a history of colorectal cancer or is at risk of developing it, managing liver health becomes especially important. Factors like maintaining a healthy weight and managing diabetes can reduce the risk. This association highlights a specific risk for patients with colorectal cancer, underscoring the need for proactive liver health management.

The researchers also investigated the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis, and various risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension. However, no significant statistical association was found between these factors and the types of tumors studied. This suggests that while NAFLD is linked to LMCC, the specific risk factors examined (diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension) did not show a strong correlation with liver cancer types in this study.