Latest news with #MASH
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
3 in 5 liver cancer cases are preventable, experts reveal
A recent study in The Lancet reveals that 60% of liver cancer cases are preventable by addressing risk factors like viral hepatitis, alcohol consumption, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Experts predict a significant rise in MASLD-related liver cancer by 2050, particularly among those with diabetes and obesity. In 2020, about 905,700 people were diagnosed with liver cancer, and 830,200 people died from it. It remains the top three causes of death in many countries. With the incidence of liver diseases on the rise, the numbers could further surge. However, a new study has found that most of the liver cancer cases are preventable. According to a new analysis published in The Lancet , 3 in 5 liver cancer cases are preventable. This is more than 60% of liver cancer cases worldwide. 60% of the liver cancer cases are preventable (Pic courtesy: iStock) The new study found that three in five liver cancer cases are preventable through the reduction of risk factors, including viral hepatitis, alcohol, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a long-term liver condition caused by excess fat in the liver. The study on liver cancer predicts that by 2050, liver cancer cases caused by a severe form of MASLD, known as MASH, will rise by 35%, from 8% to 11%. The authors have emphasized the importance of creating public, medical, and political awareness of the rising risk of MASLD, especially in the USA, Europe, and Asia. People with diabetes and obesity are especially at risk. According to the study, new liver cancer cases are predicted to double in the next 25 years if the cause is not addressed. The Commission also suggested that the risk factors can be reduced in several ways, such as increasing the coverage of the hepatitis B vaccine and public health policies that target obesity and alcohol consumption. Previous analyses have predicted that new liver cancer cases will almost double, from 870,000 in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050, mainly due to population growth and ageing. The biggest rise is expected in Africa. Deaths from liver cancer are projected to increase from 760,000 in 2022 to 1.37 million by 2050. As liver cancer remains a major cause of death and disability, looking at the risk factors is crucial. It is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of death globally. More than 40% of the global liver cancer cases occur in China, mostly due to relatively high rates of hepatitis B infections in the country. 'Liver cancer is a growing health issue around the world. It is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from approximately 5% to 30%. We risk seeing close to a doubling of cases and deaths from liver cancer over the next quarter of a century without urgent action to reverse this trend,' Chair of the Commission, Prof Jian Zhou, Fudan University (China) said in a statement. 'As three in five cases of liver cancer are linked to preventable risk factors, mostly viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity, there is a huge opportunity for countries to target these risk factors, prevent cases of liver cancer and save lives,' first author, Prof Stephen Chan, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China) added. Shift in the cause of liver cancer The study stressed that at least 60% of liver cancers are preventable by controlling modifiable risk factors, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus HCV, MASLD, and alcohol. The researchers noted that MASLD is a rising risk. Approximately a third of the global population are estimated to have MASLD. However, only 20 to 30% of patients with MASLD develop the more severe form of the condition, with liver inflammation and damage, called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The incidence of MASLD-linked liver cancer is expected to go up in the next 10 years, with obesity being the key driver. 'Liver cancer was once thought to occur mainly in patients with viral hepatitis or alcohol-related liver disease. However, today rising rates of obesity are an increasing risk factor for liver cancer, primarily due to the increase in cases of excess fat around the liver. One approach to identify patients at high risk of liver cancer would be to introduce screening for liver damage into routine healthcare practice for patients at high risk of MASLD, such as individuals living with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Healthcare professionals should also integrate lifestyle counselling into routine care to support patients to transition to a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Furthermore, policy makers must promote healthy food environments via policies such as sugar taxes and clear labelling on products with high fat, salt, and/or sugar,' commission author, Prof Hashem B El-Serag, Baylor College of Medicine (USA) said. What can be done According to the commission, if the incidence of liver cancer cases can be reduced by 2 to 5% each year by 2050, it could prevent nine to 17 million cases of liver cancer and save eight to 15 million lives. As more patients live with liver cancer than ever before, in addition to prevention efforts, there is an urgent need for increased research and attention for these patients to improve their quality of life. Supreme Court Pushes Central Govt to Finalise FOPL: What It Means & Why It Matters? | Explained 'There is an urgent need to raise awareness within society about the severity of the growing health issue of rising liver cancer cases. Compared with other cancers, liver cancer is very hard to treat but has more distinct risk factors, which help define specific prevention strategies. With joint and continuous efforts, we believe many liver cancer cases can be prevented and both the survival and quality of patients with liver cancer will be considerably improved,' Commission author, Prof Valérie Paradis, Beaujon Hospital (France) said.
Newsweek
20 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
60% of Liver Cancer Are Preventable, Report Reveals
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As many as three in five liver cancer cases could be prevented—with obesity-linked cases on the rise in particular. This is the finding of a report from the Lancet Commission on liver cancer, which found that case numbers could be slashed by reducing alcohol consumption, levels of viral hepatitis and 'metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease' (MASLD—previously known as 'non-alcoholic fatty liver disease'.) The Commission warns that the share of liver cancer cases caused by a severe form of MASLD called 'metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis' (MASH) is expected to increase by 35 percent come 2050. The authors have called for increased awareness of the rising risk of MASLD—especially in the U.S., Europe and Asia—with a focus on high-risk groups like people with diabetes and obesity. "Unfortunately through our literature review and discussion we found the public, policy makers and sometimes clinicians aren't aware of the growing problem of liver cancer," Stephen Chan, clinical oncology professor at the Chinese university of Hong Kong, told Newsweek. While around a third of the global population have MASLD, only 20–30 percent of patients with it will develop the more severe form of the condition with liver inflammation and damage. "We expect MASLD to be more problematic in the western world because of there being more metabolic causes like diabetes, fatty liver, people who are overweight…these also need behavioral modifications," Chan explained. Man holding stomach with pain at top right hand side. Man holding stomach with pain at top right hand side. GratsiasThe Commission highlighted several ways to reduce risk factors. These include increasing the coverage of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine and screening programs—and boosting public health policies targeting obesity and alcohol consumption, like minimum alcohol unit pricing, warning labels and advertising restrictions. The team have also called for professional organizations and the pharmaceutical industry to work together to reduce differences between eastern and western regions of the world in the clinical management of liver cancer. More obvious lifestyle changes—like "stopping drinking or drinking less"—are also needed, Chan said. However, he added: "There still aren't many policies on helping high-risk individuals to make and sustain behavioral modifications." The researchers estimate that if countries can reduce the incidence of liver cancer cases by two–five percent each year by 2050, it could prevent 9–17 million new cases of liver cancer and save 8–15 million lives. Previous analyses have predicted that the number of new liver cancer cases will nearly double from 870,000 in 2022 to 1.52 million in 2050, primarily due to population growth and aging populations, with the largest increases expected in Africa. The number of deaths from liver cancer is also predicted to grow from 760,000 in 2022 to 1.37 million in 2050. Liver cancer is already the sixth most common cancer and third leading cause of death from cancer globally. In the U.S., about 42,240 new cases will be diagnosed this year, with about 30,090 people expected to die, according to the American Cancer Society. Liver cancer incidence rates have more than tripled since 1980, while the death rates have more than doubled during this time. More than 40 percent of the global liver cancer cases occur in China, mostly due to relatively high rates of hepatitis B infections in the country. "Liver cancer is a growing health issue around the world. It is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from approximately 5 percent to 30 percent. We risk seeing close to a doubling of cases and deaths from liver cancer over the next quarter of a century without urgent action to reverse this trend," said Commission chair professor Jian Zhou of Fudan University, China, in a statement. Hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine. ronstik/Getty Images At least 60 percent of liver cancers are predicted to be preventable by addressing risk factors including HBV, hepatitis C, MASLD and alcohol. MASH is the fastest growing cause of liver cancer globally, followed by alcohol. The proportion of liver cancer cases linked to HBV, however, is expected to decrease from 39 percent in 2022 to 37 percent in 2050, while hepatitis C-related cases are projected to drop from 29 to 26 percent over the same period. "Liver cancer was once thought to occur mainly in patients with viral hepatitis or alcohol-related liver disease. However, today rising rates of obesity are an increasing risk factor for liver cancer, primarily due to the increase in cases of excess fat around the liver," said commission author professor Hashem B El-Serag of the Baylor College of Medicine in the US said in a statement. "One approach to identify patients at high risk of liver cancer would be to introduce screening for liver damage into routine healthcare practice for patients at high risk of MASLD, such as individuals living with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. "Healthcare professionals should also integrate lifestyle counselling into routine care to support patients to transition to a healthy diet and regular physical activity. "Furthermore, policy makers must promote healthy food environments via policies such as sugar taxes and clear labelling on products with high fat, salt, and/or sugar." Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about liver cancer? Let us know via health@ Reference Chan, S. L., Sun, H.-C., Xu, Y., Zeng, H., El-Serag, H. B., Lee, J. M., Schwartz, M. E., Finn, R. S., Seong, J., Wang, X. W., Paradis, V., Abou-Alfa, G. K., Rimassa, L., Kao, J.-H., Zhang, B.-H., Llovet, J. M., Bruix, J., Yip, T. C.-F., Wong, V. W.-S., ... Zhou, J. (2025). The Lancet Commission on addressing the global hepatocellular carcinoma burden: Comprehensive strategies from prevention to treatment. The Lancet Commissions.
NBC News
20 hours ago
- Health
- NBC News
Liver cancer cases are projected to double, but more than half could be preventable
At least 60% of liver cancers could be preventable, according to an analysis published Monday in The Lancet. Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, with around 870,000 cases in 2022. That's projected to increase to 1.52 million cases in 2050, the new report found, if no changes are made. The leading cause of liver cancer is viral infections, including the hepatitis B and C viruses. Hepatitis B infections — which are preventable with a vaccine — accounted for 39% of liver cancers in 2022. That's expected to fall slightly, to 36.9%, by 2025. Hepatitis C accounted for 29.1% of liver cancers in 2022 and is also projected to fall, to 25.9%, by 2050. The proportions of alcohol- and obesity-related liver cancers, however, are projected to rise in the next 25 years. Alcohol accounted for 18.8% of liver cancers in 2022, and that is expected to increase to 21.1% in 2050. The share of liver cancers caused by obesity-related disease is projected to increase from 8% to 10.8% by 2050 due to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol and other metabolic risk factors. Dr. Hashem El-Serag, one of the report's co-authors and chair of the department of medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said the public usually thinks of alcohol as the biggest risk factor for liver cancer. 'I think for most people, if you say cirrhosis, they immediately think of a relative, of someone who was a heavy drinker,' El-Serag said. 'I think the vast majority do not make the tie between MASLD, or fatty liver, and cirrhosis and liver cancer.' MASLD, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, affects about 25% of adults in the U.S. It's caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. About 5% of U.S. adults have a more severe form, called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which can lead to scarring, or cirrhosis, of the liver, significantly increasing the risk of cancer. Excess alcohol consumption can also lead to cirrhosis. Liver cancer is still relatively rare in the United States, representing 2.1% of all new cancer diagnoses in 2025. The report estimated that by 2040, U.S. rates of MASLD could more than double, affecting more than 55% of adults. Detecting liver cancer risk factors Earlier detection and effective treatment plans for MASLD can reduce the risk of obesity-related liver cancer, El-Serag said. The most common treatment is weight loss. GLP-1 weight loss drugs, which include Ozempic and Wegovy, are promising, he said. (A clinical trial published in April found that Wegovy treated MASH in about two-thirds of patients.) However, people aren't screened for MASLD like they are for viral hepatitis, El-Serag said. Dr. Arun Jesudian, a hepatologist and the director of liver quality and inpatient liver services at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, said patients are tested for MASLD and/or MASH if they have elevated liver enzymes in their blood. Raising awareness about MASLD among both patients and doctors can lead to more effective testing and diagnosis, Jesudian said. 'I think then we need to make sure that providers who are interacting with these patients are looking at the liver disease component of metabolic syndrome,' he said, referring to patients with a cluster of conditions including high blood sugar, high blood pressure and excess weight. 'So checking liver enzymes, that they know how to assess for fibrosis, even based on these blood test scores.' MASLD and MASH can often be asymptomatic, making self-detection more challenging. 'Right now, it's haphazard. Some people get tested. Others get suspected. Third, who knows?' El-Serag said. Dr. Neehar Parikh, a hepatologist at the University of Michigan who specializes in liver cancer, said he is seeing more patients with MASLD as a driving factor for liver cancer. Patients with MASLD can develop liver cancer without developing cirrhosis, making it even more challenging to detect those cases, Parikh said. Up to 40% of those with liver cancers linked to MASLD don't develop cirrhosis, according to the report. Figuring out who those patients are is the 'million-dollar question,' he said. 'Those patients that develop MASLD that develop liver cancer, you know, how do you screen that population? We don't really know what to do.' Still, Parikh said these types of cases are rare.
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts pinpoint cause of surging rates of liver cancer - as cases surge in under 50s with numbers set to DOUBLE by 2050
Liver cancer is on course to become a far bigger global health crisis—particularly among younger adults—with cases expected to double by 2050, experts have warned. Once seen as a disease affecting mainly older people with hepatitis infections or alcohol dependency, liver cancer is now increasingly being diagnosed in people in their 30s and 40s. A major new analysis published in The Lancet links this shift to the rise in obesity and related liver conditions such as MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease). The report projects that the number of new liver cancer cases worldwide will jump from 870,000 in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050, while annual deaths from the disease are set to rise from 760,000 to 1.37 million over the same period. Experts say one of the fastest-growing causes is MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis), a severe form of fatty liver disease tied to obesity and metabolic dysfunction. The proportion of liver cancers linked to MASH is expected to more than double, from 5 per cent in 2022 to 11 per cent in 2050. The number of cases caused the most common cause of the deadly disease—the hepatitis B virus—are set to decline. Similarly, cases caused by the hepatitis C virus are also expected to decline proportionately. However, the number of cases caused by obesity and alcohol are predicted to rise over the same time period. Specifically, over a fifth of liver cancer cases will be caused by alcohol by the year 2050. Meanwhile, one in ten cases will be caused by a severe form of MASLD—formerly known as fatty liver disease. This condition occurs when fat builds up in a person's liver, and is closely linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes. The team of researchers, from Hong Kong, highlighted that 60 per cent of cases of the deadly disease are preventable. On their findings, the researchers said they indicate that preventative measures need to be taken for liver cancer, which is also known as hepatocellular carcinoma. The main treatment for MASLD is eating a balanced diet, being physically active and potentially losing weight. 'Liver cancer is a growing health issue around the world,' said Professor Jian Zhou, chairman of the Commission from Fudan University in China. 'It is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from approximately 5 to 30 per cent. 'We risk seeing close to a doubling of cases and deaths from liver cancer over the next quarter of a surgery without urgent action to reverse this trend.' They study's lead author, Professor Stephen Chan, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, added: 'There is a huge opportunity for countries to target these risk factors, prevent cases of liver cancer and save lives.' Commenting on the study, Pamela Healy, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: 'Liver is the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK, and just 13 per cent of people diagnosed will survive for five years or more.' 'We know that the biggest risk factors are having pre-existing liver cirrhosis or viral hepatitis, and this new analysis highlights that MASLD, also known as fatty liver disease, is expected to be linked to an increasing number of cases.' Liver cirrhosis is a progressive disease that can lead to live failure if left untreated—which is when the organ has permanent scarring due to long-term damage. 'As well as improving early detection through surveillance of people with cirrhosis, it is essential that we tackle these underlying causes and prioritise public health,' he added. 'By supporting people to maintain a healthy weight, cut down on alcohol and get tested and treated for hepatitis, we can prevent many cases of liver cancer and save lives.' In the UK, there has been a strong sense of urgency to tackle the UK's growing obesity crisis to alleviate pressures on the National Health Service. According to recent data, nearly two-thirds of adults in England are overweight, with an extra 260,000 people entering the category last year. Meanwhile, more than a quarter (26.5 per cent)—an estimated 14 million people—were classified as obese. Last month GPs allowed to prescribe weight loss jabs, collectively known as GLP-1s for the first time in a bid to tackle the crisis. An estimated 1.5 million people are now using weight loss jabs through the NHS or private clinics, while millions more are eligible. However, pharmacists today warned that growing demand may become unsustainable.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MDGL)'s Rezdiffra Hits 51% Liver Stiffness Reduction in Phase 3
We recently compiled a list of Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDGL) is leading innovation in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), previously known as NASH. It's FDA-approved drug, Rezdiffra (resmetirom), is the first oral, liver-targeted thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist for MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis (F2–F3). It is also being tested in compensated MASH cirrhosis patients. At the 2025 EASL Congress, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDGL) presented promising two-year data from its Phase 3 MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 trial, showing Rezdiffra significantly reduced liver stiffness and lowered the risk of liver decompensation in F4c patients. Notably, 51% of participants had a ≥25% reduction in liver stiffness, and 65% of those with baseline portal hypertension moved to lower-risk categories. Safety remained consistent with prior results. Looking ahead, the MAESTRO-NASH OUTCOMES trial, expected to read out in 2027, will evaluate Rezdiffra's ability to reduce liver-related events in compensated cirrhosis patients. Meanwhile, regulatory momentum continues: the EMA's CHMP issued a positive opinion in June 2025, with potential EU approval expected by August. Rezdiffra would then be the first MASH treatment approved in both the U.S. and Europe. A healthcare professional wearing a health communications device discussing patient data with a colleague. Further solidifying its position, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDGL) secured a new U.S. patent for Rezdiffra's dosing rights in July 2025, enhancing its intellectual property and global commercialization strategy. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
