| Title: | Association of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease trajectories with incident liver cancer: a UK Biobank cohort study |
| Journal: | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
| Published: | 22 Jun 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42440492/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2026.1851106 |
| URL: | https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1851106/pdf |
Publication 20570
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Abstract
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasingly recognized as a contributor to hepatocellular carcinoma. Whether repeated assessment of MASLD provides additional prognostic information for liver cancer risk remains unclear.</p>
Methods: Using the UK Biobank, we included 12,111 participants who underwent both baseline and follow-up health screenings. MASLD was defined at each assessment as fatty liver index ≥60 plus at least one cardiometabolic risk criterion. Four trajectory groups were defined: no MASLD → no MASLD, no MASLD → MASLD, MASLD → no MASLD, and MASLD → MASLD. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).</p>
Results: At baseline, 4,008 participants (33.1%) had MASLD. MASLD at period 1 was associated with a higher risk of incident liver cancer compared with no MASLD (aHR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.20-6.58). A similar association was observed for MASLD at period 2 (aHR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.12-6.06). In trajectory analyses, MASLD → no MASLD (aHR, 4.00; 95% CI, 1.01-15.80) and MASLD → MASLD (aHR, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.31-9.44) were associated with higher liver cancer risk than no MASLD → no MASLD.</p>
Conclusions: MASLD at either assessment was associated with higher incident liver cancer risk. Trajectory analyses suggest that persistent MASLD and prior MASLD exposure may both carry prognostic importance.</p>
17 Keywords
- Aged
- Biological Specimen Banks
- Cohort Studies
- Fatty Liver
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Incidence
- Liver Neoplasms
- Male
- Metabolic Diseases
- Middle Aged
- Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Prognosis
- Risk Factors
- UK Biobank
- United Kingdom
2 Authors
- Ryuk Jun Kwon
- Yohwan Lim
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 106954 | Development of depression and chronic disease management service in primary care by investigating associated risk factors |
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health