Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a cancer risk factor

Abstract

The purpose of this review was to update information on the prevalence and relationship of cancer development of various localizations with non-alcoholic, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MAFLD). Discussion: The second most common cause of death among patients with NAFLD are malignant neoplasms both in the gastrointestinal tract (liver, colon, esophagus, stomach and pancreas) and in other organs (kidneys, prostate gland in men and mammary gland in women). Obesity and other metabolic disorders are associated with an increase in morbidity or mortality from various types of cancer. Due to the high prevalence of NAFLD among patients with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, an extrapolation of this development is assumed among patients with NAFLD. Metabolic disorders, imbalance of the intestinal microflora are considered as possible pathogenetic mechanisms for increasing the risk of cancer among patients suffering from NAFLD. Conclusion: in addition to the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma as a natural course of the disease, convincing evidence is accumulating for the role of NAFLD as an independent risk factor for the development and progression of cancer, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.