Obesity and liver cancer

Ester Vanni; Elisabetta Bugianesi

doi:10.1016/j.cld.2013.09.001

Obesity and liver cancer

Clin Liver Dis. 2014 Feb;18(1):191-203. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2013.09.001. Epub 2013 Oct 24.

Authors

Ester Vanni¹, Elisabetta Bugianesi

Affiliation

¹ Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Corso Dogliotti 14, I-10126 Torino, Italy.

PMID: 24274874
DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2013.09.001

Abstract

Obesity is an established risk factor for many types of cancers, particularly for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), owing to its carcinogenic potential and the association with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). HCC may develop in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic livers with NAFLD, particularly in the presence of multiple metabolic risk factors such as obesity and diabetes. This issue is alarming because the population potentially at higher risk is greatly increasing. This review summarizes current evidence linking obesity and liver cancer, and discusses recent advances on the mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Keywords: Carcinogenesis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / complications*
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / etiology
Fatty Liver / complications
Female
Humans
Liver Neoplasms / complications*
Liver Neoplasms / etiology
Male
Models, Biological
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Obesity / complications*
Risk Factors
Signal Transduction